■^^^^^^Wmi.. 


fmm 


w>tmmmmfffff¥ff>m'i*li^^^ 


mkii 


W' 


^)^ 


mi 


"""'^■'•-,.''''^ 


v/     / 


Ym^ 


1 


'*^.  "oJiT.  ^ 


'V;?,t 


'^^'SM' 


i^^if 


nmm§&i''^!^^m. 


•'j^»;;a;,a^:jaa.  :2sj^r 


^  '^A'y^f^/y 


.     A    A     *     '            A 

A     *     t 

'^    /^    A    AWA    a     -. 


AA^'*^-' 


intlieCitpoflrtogork 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


A  A  ^  A 


^mi^n 


.^A^^  ^^ftAA 


'aA/^'/' 


iipip 


>'^A^A.O, 


HISTORY 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


By    ABEL    S  T  E  Y  E  N  S,    LL.  D., 

ADTHOR  OF   "  THE  HISTOBT  OF  THE  RELIGIODS  MOVEMENT  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH  CENTCBT 
CALLED  METHODISM,"  ETC. 


VOLUME     I. 

^^t  planting  of  g^nteruair  Petl^obism. 


PUBLISHED  BY  CARLTON  &  PORTER, 

200  MULBERRT-9TKEET. 


v./ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S64,  hy 
CARLTON    &    PORTER, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New-York. 


-t — I — .    t    »    n  « — t 


DEDICATORY   PREFACE. 


To  Gabeiel  p.  Disoswat,  Esq. 

My  Deab  SiE, — In  submitting  to  you  the  first  two  volumes  of  the 
"  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,"  1  acknowledge,  with  grateful  pleasure,  my  obligations  to  you 
for  the  counsels  and  encouragements  you  have  constantly  given  me  in 
my  laborious  task.  During  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  extra- 
ordinary "Eeligious  Movement  of  the  Eighteenth  Centiuy,  called  Meth- 
odism," has  been  to  me  a  profoundly  interesting  study.  But  such  are 
the  paucity,  the  carelessness  even,  and  consequent  inaccuracy  of  our 
early  documents,  that  my  task  has  had  extreme  embarrassments.  So 
formidable  have  these  been  that,  could  they  have  been  estimated  in  the 
outset,  they  would  have  deterred  me  from  my  undertaking.  No  man 
has  given  me  more  intimate  sympathy  or  more  valuable  advice  in  my 
researches  than  yourself.  Your  ancestral  connection  with  the  early  Hu- 
guenotic  religious  history  of  the  country,  and  a  Methodistic  parentage 
which  has  rendered  you  familiar  with  nearly  the  entire  history  of  Amer- 
ican Methodism,  have  enabled  you  to  afford  me  indispensable  aid,  and 
have  enabled  me,  as  difficulty  after  difficulty  has  vanished,  to  rejoice 
m  the  labors  of  my  pen. 

My  public  function,  as  a  Church  editor,  afforded  me,  for  years,  means  of 
gathering  fragmentary  accoimts  of  our  history,  as  they  occasionally  ap- 
peared in  my  periodical  "  exchanges."  They  accumulated  in  large  col- 
lections. An  early  correspondence  with  many  of  the  fathers  of  the 
denomination,  most  of  whom  have  now  gone  to  their  rest,  procured 
autobiographical  sketches,  local  historical  records,  and  other  invaluable 
manuscripts,  which  remain  with  me  as  precious  relics.  I  found,  in 
these  materials,  many  data  which,  though  unsuitable  for  a  general  his- 
tory of  the  denomination,  were  too  important  to  be  lost,  and  might  be 
properly  enough  used  in  a  local  narrative.    More  than  fifteen  years 


4  DEDICATORY    PREFACE. 

Bince,  a  portion  of  them  ■vrere,  therefore,  published  in  a  volume  of  "  Me- 
morials of  the  Introduction  of  Methodism  into  the  Eastern  States,  com- 
prising Biographical  Notices  of  its  Early  Preachers,  Sketches  of  its  first 
Churches,  and  Reminiscences  of  its  Early  Struggles  and  Successes." 
The  unexpected  interest  excited  by  this  publication  led  to  a  second 
series,  some  twelve  years  since,  entitled,  "  Memorials  of  the  Early  Prog- 
ress of  Methodism  in  the  Eastern  States,"  etc.  As  many,  if  not,  indeed, 
most  of  the  early  preachers  of  Methodism  in  New  England,  were  from 
the  Middle  States,  and,  by  the  transitions  of  the  "  itinerant  system," 
were  tossed,  not  only  back  again  to  their  original  fields,  but,  many  of 
them,  to  remote  parts  of  the  country,  their  personal  history,  as  given  in 
these  early  volumes,  presented  not  a  few  data  of  the  general  history  of 
the  denomination.  Historical  students  know  that  no  literary  labor  is 
more  onerous  than  the  preparation  of  works  like  these.  The  private 
correspondence,  the  collection  and  combination  of  fugitive  and  frag- 
mentary accounts,  the  collation  of  documents,  the  harmonization  of 
conflicting  statements,  the  grouping  of  events  lacking  often  their  most 
essential  connecting  links,  the  portraiture  of  characters,  historically  im- 
portant but  almost  totally  obscured  in  undeserved  oblivion,  present  em- 
barrassments which  may  well  constrain  the  writer  often  to  throw  down  his 
pen  in  despair.  But  I  have  been  abundantly  compensated  by  the  facts 
that  the  "  Memorials  "  have  become  recognized  as  indispensable  author- 
ities, for  reference,  in  subsequent  historical  works  on  Methodism,  that 
they  are  incessantly  cited  in  accounts  of  eastern  Churches  and  Confer- 
ences, and  that  they  have  rescued,  at  the  last  moment,  many  heroic 
characters  from  utter  obUNion.  I  have  even  had  the  presumption  to 
suppose  that,  as  no  general  ecclesiastical  historian  can  now  ignore  the 
primitive  Church  chroniclers,  Eusebius,  Socrates,  Sozomcn,  Theodoret, 
Evagrius,  feeble  and  blundering  narrators  aa  they  were,  so  these  humble 
contributions  of  my  pen  shall,  by  the  mere  fact  of  their  chronological 
precedence,  be  necessary  documents  of  reference  for  the  abler  writers  of 
the  future.  They  have  been  followed  by  one  effect  for  which  I  have 
especially  to  congratulate  myself:  they  were  the  first  in  that  numerous 
series  of  local  narratives  of  the  denomination  which  have  since  enriched 
us  with  our  best  historical  materials.  "  Memorials  of  Methodism  in  New 
Jersey,"  by  Atkinson ;  "  Annals  of  Southern  Methodism,"  by  Deems ; 
"  Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  and  several  similar  works  by  Fin- 
ley  ;  "  Methodism  within  the  Troy  Conference,"  by  Parks ;  "  Early 
Methodism  within  the  bounds  of  the  Old  Genesee  Conference,"  bj 


DEDICATORY    PREFACE.  5 

Peck;  "Sketches  and  Collections,"  by  Carroll ;  "Lost  Chapters,"  and 
the  "Heroes,"  by  Wakeley;  the  "Heroines,"  by  Coles;  "Methodism 
in  Canada,"  byPlayter;  "Methodism  in  America,"  by  Lednum, 
"  German  Methodist  Preachers,"  by  Miller,  and  many  similar  and 
equally  valuable  works,  besides  almost  innumerable  biographical  con- 
tributions to  our  history,  have,  since,  been  incessantly  issuing  from  the 
press,  and  it  seems  probable  that  few  recoverable  documents  or  remi- 
niscences, of  our  early  times,  wUl  now  be  allowed  to  perish.  If  there  has 
been  somewhat  of  antiquarian  extravagance  in  this  prevalent  and  in- 
fectious spirit  of  inquiry ;  if  it  has  sometimes  harassed  our  public  press 
with  belabored  controversies  about  names  and  dates,  it  is  nevertheless 
pardonable,  and  indeed  admirable,  for  the  rich  results  it  has  afforded. 
The  researches  of  Wakeley  have  especially  given  us  facts  of  priceless 
value,  and  I  cannot  too  strongly  acknowledge  my  obligations  to  him. 
The  occasional  publications  of  Drs.  Coggeshall,  Hamilton,  and  Roberts 
deserve  equal  commendation.  These  writers,  though  differing  on  im- 
portant questions,  have  illuminated  phases  of  our  history  which  formerly 
seemed  hopelessly  obscured. 

The  two  volumes  of  "  Memorials"  were  but  preliminary  to  a  more 
elaborate  work,  "  The  History  of  the  Religious  Movement  of  the  Eight- 
eenth Century,  called  Methodism,  considered  in  its  Different  Denomi- 
national Forms,  and  its  Relations  to  British  and  American  Protestantism," 
in  three  volumes.  I  know  of  no  work  on  Methodism  which  proposed 
80  comprehensive  a  scope ;  many  of  its  necessary  routes  of  research  had 
never,  to  my  knowledge,  been  explored ;  but  if  at  any  time  I  was  bewil- 
dered, and  disposed  despondently  to  retreat  from  the  labyrinth  of  inco- 
herent data  and  conflicting  authorities,  as  well  as  from  other  and  more 
vexatious  discouragements,  with  which  our  mutual  confidence  has 
made  you  familiar,  your  genial  voice  has  never  failed  to  summon  me 
forward  with  renewed  determination. 

Early  in  the  prosecution  of  these  works  I  became  convinced  of  two 
facts :  first,  that  if  successfully  completed  they  might  be  more  useful 
than  any  other  possible  service  of  my  life  to  the  Church ;  but  secondly, 
that  they  could  not  be  successfully  prosecuted  without  comparative  re- 
tirement from  most  other  public  labors,  for,  at  least,  some  years.  During 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  my  official  position  in  the  Church  had 
kept  me  reluctantly  engrossed  in  exhaustive  labors  and  ecclesiastical  agi- 
tations. The  latter  were  always  repugnant  to  my  best  instincts ;  and  the 
historical  tasks  I  had  planned  seemed  to  justify  a  resolute  escape  from 


6  DEDICATORY    PREFACE. 

them.  The  General  Conference  at  Buffalo  presented  an  opportunity 
which  I  accepted  with  an  unutterable  sense  of  relief.  During  Bome 
years  I  have  stood  apart  from  our  public  controversies,  asking  of  aU  par- 
ties the  favor  of  being,  as  far  as  possible,  ignored  in  their  combats,  theii 
party  schemes  and  ofBicial promotions ;  assuring  myself,  however  vainly, 
that,  at  last,  they  themselves  might  acknowledge  I  had  chosen  the  better 
part,  and  had  worthily,  however  unsuccessfully,  attempted  a  better 
service  for  our  common  cause.  Confining  myself  to  quiet  pastoral  du- 
ties, besides  my  literary  tasks,  among  a  people  who  have  facilitated  my 
aims,  by  a  generosity  equal  to  their  abundant  means,  and  amid  a  pic- 
turesque and  tranquilizing  scenery,  singularly  congenial  with  meditative 
iabors,  I  have  spent  what  has  been  the  happiest  and  most  hopeful  period 
of  mj-  public  life,  in  the  attempt  to  fumisb  the  Church  with  such  a  liis- 
tory  of  its  providential  career  as  it  may  not  willingly  let  die.  I  have  ad- 
mitted no  interruption  of  this  plan  of  life,  except  a  short  interval,  devoted 
to  a  biographical  tribute  to  our  common  and  venerated  friend,  Dr 
Nathan  Bangs. 

The  three  volumes  of  the  "  History  of  the  Religious  Movement  of  the 
Eighteenth  Century,"  etc.,  are  devoted  to  a  survey  of  general  Method- 
ism centraliziug  in  the  British  "  Wcsleyun  Connection."  WhUe,  there 
fore,  it  is  as  exact  a  record  of  the  latter  organization  as  I  could  make  it, 
the  foreign  ramifications  of  the  movement  could  be  treated  only  in  out- 
line, and  in  their  essential  relations  to  the  central  body.  This  in 
especially  the  case  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  whoso  fruitAil 
history  might  well  claim  as  many,  if  not  more,  volumes  than  that  of 
British  Methodism.  In  the  preface  to  that  work  intimation  is,  therefore, 
given  of  a  further  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  not  as  a 
completion,  but  as  a  complement  to  it,  and  frequently,  Ln  marginal  notes, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  this  future  record  for  fuller  information  on 
American  subjects.  My  design  has  been,  in  fine,  to  write  a  distinct 
history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as  complete  as  I  could  make 
it,  and  though  complementary  to  the  preceding  work,  yet  as  independent 
of  the  latter  as  if  this  had  not  been  written.  You  have  in  the  present 
volumes  the  first  installment  of  my  new  work.  I  have  endeavored  to 
render  these  volumes  complete  in  themselves,  so  that  no  contingency, 
which  may  interfere  with  the  further  prosecution  of  my  plan,  can  impair 
the  present  portion  of  it.  They  are  conclusive  as  a  historj-  of  the 
"Planting"  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  America,  narrating 
the  progress  of  Methodism  in  the  United  States  from  its  introduction  to 


DEDICATORY    PREFACE.  7 

its  Episcopal  organization  at  the  memorable  "  Christmas  Conference," 
and  its  subseqiaent  outspread  generally  in  the  nation,  and  presenting,  in 
its  organic  completeness,  the  theological  and  disciplinary  platform  on 
which  the  whole  fabric  of  the  denomination  has  been  constructed. 

An  author  is  seldom  a  good  judge  of  the  probable  popular  interest  of 
nis  book.  I  have  endeavored  to  hold  all  such  considerations  in  abey- 
ance ;  a  full  and  a  correct  history  of  the  Church  is  what  we  have  needed, 
and  I  have  attempted  to  provide  it.  If,  however,  the  reader  shall  share 
a  tithe  of  the  interest  with  which  I  have  traced  the  details  of  this  narra- 
tive, and  if,  especially,  he  shall  have  patience  to  follow  me  in  the  future 
and  grander  development  of  their  results,  I  presume  to  hope  that  he 
win  find  the  history  of  this  portion  of  the  "kingdom  of  God"  on  earth 
as  significant  and  as  impressive  as  the  cbtemporaneous  history  of  any 
other  religious  body.  The  iuterest  of  the  present  volumes  must,  how- 
ever, be  quite  different  from  that  of  the  preceding  work,  on  the  general 
history  of  Methodism  ;  in  the  latter  imposing  characters  appear  imme- 
diately on  the  scene,  the  Wesleys,  Whitefield,  Fletcher,  with  many  other 
great  men,  and  not  a  few  saintly  women,  and  the  historic  movement 
goes  on  with  singular  unity  and  almost  epic  interest  to  its  culmination 
in  its  centenary  jubilee.  In  the  present  volumes  we  wander  over  a 
hardly  defined  field,  gathering  fragmentary  and  scattered,  though  pre- 
cious materials ;  brought  together  and  rightly  placed,  these  fragments 
at  last  stand  out  a  goodly  and  stately  structure,  a  shining  "  city  of  God ;" 
but  the  vague,  preliminary,  if  not  tedious  toil  of  gathering  and  shaping 
them  must  precede  the  imposing  construction.  Many  really  great  char- 
acters— Asbury,  Coke,  Whatcoat,  Garrettson,  Lee,  etc. —  enter  the 
scene,  but  they  hardly  yet  assume  their  heroic  proportions.  "We  see 
them  but  ascending  to  those  high  positions  where  they  will  hereafter 
appear  as  colossal  historic  statues,  at  once  the  architects  and  the  orna- 
ments of  the  great  temple.  If,  however,  I  were  amenable  to  the  bar  of 
criticism  for  the  comparative  popular  interest  of  the  two  productions,  I 
might  well  hesitate  to  appear  before  the  public  with  the  present  vol- 
umes, after  the  unexpected  favorable  reception  of  the  former  work.  The 
historian  must  not  inventhin  materials,  in  the  popular  sense  of  the  word ; 
he  can  only  do  so  in  its  etymological  sense ;  success  in  this  respect  is, 
therefore,  the  only  just  question  of  criticism.  To  this  inquisition  I 
willingly  submit  these  volumes.  The  first  historian  of  Methodism, 
Jesse  Lee,  gives  to  the  period  I  have  gone  over,  but  little  more  than  half 
of  his  small  volume,  inserting  large  official  documents ;  Bangs  gives  it 


8  DEDICATORY   PREFACE. 

but  one  volume,  insertin?  still  larger  documents,  including  nearly  an 
entire  copy  of  the  Discipline ;  I  have  added  to  their  materials  enough  to 
make,  with  no  slisjht  condensation,  t\ro  volumes.  These  additional 
materials  have  mostly  come  to  light  since  the  publication  of  the  works 
of  my  predecessors.  I  flatter  myself  that  their  importance,  aside  from 
their  popular  interest,  will  justify  my  attempt  to  provide  this  now  nar- 
rative of  our  early  history. 

I  have  had  to  meet  one  somewhat  invidious  necessity — the  correction 
of  not  a  few  errors,  especially  chronological  mistakes,  in  our  primitive 
documents  and  in  some  of  my  historical  predecessors.  I  must  doubtless 
bear  similar  criticism,  if  my  work  shall  be  deemed  worthy  of  it ;  and  I 
shall  heartily  welcome  it,  especially  if  it  shall  be  conducted  with  the 
candor  and  cordiality  which  I  have  endeavored  to  exemplify.  Our  early 
records  are  so  defective,  they  were  printed  with  such  apparent  haste, 
and  many  of  the  events  I  have  narrated  are  so  incoljcrently  given  by 
them,  that  it  can  hardly  be  presumed  I  have  not  made  grave  mistakes. 
To  the  many  students  of  our  denominational  historj',  in  all  parts  of  the 
country,  1  look  for  such  corrections  as  shall  enable  me,  hereafter,  to  rec- 
tify largely  my  pages. 

I  have  thus,  my  dear  friend,  taken  advantage  of  your  name  and  con- 
fidence to  say  many  things,  unusual  in  a  preface,  and  liable,  perhaps,  to 
bo  deemed  superfluous,  if  not  egotistical.  If  the  proverbial  whimsical- 
itv  ""'f  authors  should  not  be  admitted  as  my  excuse,  I  might  add  that 
there  are  reasons,  known  to  yourself  if  not  to  other  readers,  why  these 
somewhat  personal  remarks  should  be  excused. 

With  grateful  affection, 

Abel  Stkvkns. 

MAJLUtONEOE  Pabsomaoe,  8^t«mber.  18A4. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


PoRe 

Wesley  and  Watt 15 

The  Steam-Engine 16 

Us  Importance  to  America lY 

Necessity  of  the  Methodist  Sys- 
tem for  the  Moral  Wants  of 

the  Country 17 

Development  of  the  Nation  aft- 
er the  Revolution 17 

Great  Growth  of  its  Popula- 
tion   18 

The  "Great  West" 25 

Ecclesiastical      Methods      of 

Methodism 26 

Its  Development  in  England . .  29 


Page 

It  is  not  a  new  Dogmatic  Sys- 
tem    29 

Its  Theology 29 

Arminianism. 80 

Whitefleld 31 

John  and  Charles  Wesley 32 

Bishop  Bi'ihler 85 

The  Genius  of  Methodism 86 

Evangelical  Life  _ _. . .  36 

Development  of  its  Ecclesias- 
tical Peculiarities 39 

Its  Catholicity 40 

Its  Persecutions 41 

Its  Success 42 


BOOK  I. 


FROM  THE  ORIGIN  OF  AMERICAN  METHODISM   TO 
THE  BEGINNING-  OF  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FOUHDERS    OF  THE   METHODIST  EPIS- 
COPAL CHURCH. 

Wesley  among  the  Irish 47 

The  ""Palatmes  " 48 

Their  Historical  Importance. .  49 

Their  Origin 49 

Their  Character 50 

Their  Emigration  to  America.  51 

Philip  Embury 52 

He  Founds  Methodism  in  the 

United  States 55 


Captain  Webh 57 

Sketch  of  his  Life  and  Charac- 
ter    51 

His  Style  of  Preaching f  9 

Barbara  Heck 62 

The  First  American  Methodist 

Chapel 62. 

Embury    Retires    from    New 

York 67 

His  Death 68 

Barbara  Heck 68 

Curious  Controversy :  Note.. .  69 


10 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   II. 

RISE    OF    METHODISM    IN    MARYLAND. 
Puff.. 

Kobert  Strawbridge 71 

Trace.'*  of  him  in  Ireland 71 

Jlid  Character 72 

Hi.s  Emigration  to  America. . .  72 

Hi?  Methodistic  Labors 73 

Kiihard  <  Kven,  the  first  native 

Methodist  rreacher 74 

Watttre'>  Eulogy  r.n  Lim 74 

Strawbridtre's  latter  Years i.^ 

His  Death  and  Funeral 78 

Asbnry's  Opinion  of  liim 79 

t)ri'rinal  Humility  of  American 

Mcthodi.<m 80 


CHAPTER  m. 

EARLT   LAY   EVANGELISTS. 

Immigration 81 

The  Methodists  of  New  York 
ajiply  to  Wesley  for  Preach- 
ers    82 

Interest  in  England  for  Amer- 
ica    S3 

Robert  Williams  hastens  to  the 

Colonies S3 

A  slit  on  of  Ash  grove S8 

Williams's  Services S4 

He  founds  Methodism  in  Vir- 
ginia    S5 

Rev.  Devereaux  Jarratt So 

Jesse  Lee 8.5 

William  Watters,  the  first  Na- 
tive Itinerant 85 

Williains'.s  Death ^5 

Asbury's  Eulogy  on  him 86 

Other     Testimonials     to    hia 

Character  and  Usefulness. . .  80 

John  King 87 

He   preaclics   in  the  Potter's 

Field  of  Philadelphia 88 

He  Introduces  Methodism  into 

Baltimore fts 

Preaches  in  the  Streets 89 

Traces  of  his  Life tio 

His  Faults 90 

Wesley's  characteristic  Letter 

to  him  :  Note 91 

CHAPTER  IV. 

WESLEY'S    FIRST    MISSIOXARIES  TO 
AMERICA. 

Appeals  to  Wesley  for  Mission- 
aries         flO 

Dr.  Wrangle 92 


p«« 
John  Hood  and  Lambert  Wil- 

mer  of  Philadelphia 93 

Wesley's  Appeal  to  his  Con- 
ference       93 

The  Response 93 

A     liberal     Contribution     for 

America 93 

The  Confirence 93 

Leeds  in  Methodist  Missionary 

History' 94 

Sketch  of  Richard  Boardmon. .     95 

His  Perils  bv  Water W 

Instrumental    in   the   Conver- 
sion of  Jabez  Bunting 97 

Josej'h  Pilmoor 98 

A  Temp(!stuous  Voviijre 98 

Arrival  of  the  Missionaries  in 

A  merica 99 

Pilmoor  preaching  in  the  Streets 

of  Philadelphia 99 

His  Letter  to  Wesley 99 

Boardman  en  the  Way  to  New 

York 100 

Whitefleld  greets  them l"! 

Presentiment  of  his  Death 1  ol 

His  last  P'vangelical  Triumphs  lol 

Last  Sermon 10-2 

Lnst  Exhortation lf>2 

Jesse  Lee  at  his  Tomb:  Note.   103 

Boardman  in  New  York li'S 

His  Success 104 

John  Mann 104 

Pilmoor 104 

His  Letter  to  Wesley 104 

Singular  Introduction  into  New 
Rbchelle 107 

CHAPTER  V. 

WESLEY'S     AMERICAN     MISSIONARIBB, 
CONTINfEU. 

America  appears  in  W'esley's 

Minutes T,o 

Appeal  for  more  Preachers  ...   110 

More  sent HI 

Early  Life  of  Francis  Asbury.  Ill 
Methodism  in  Statfordshire  '.  .113 
A.sbur}-  becomes  a  Methodist. .    114 

His  Character li.') 

He  embarks  fr>r. America 117 

Richard  Wright,  his  Compan- 
ion  '. lis 

Their  Arrival  in  Philadelphia.  119 
Number  of  Methodists  inAmer- 

ica 120 

St.  George's  Chapel 120 

The  First  Philadelphia  Meth- 
odists    121 


CONTENTS. 


11 


Pase  I 

Bohemia  Manor 122 

Asbury  in  New  Jersey 128 

Peter  Van  Pelt 128 

Staten  Island 124 

Methodism  there 125 

Israel  Disosway 125 

Asbnry  enters  New  York 125 

He  Contends  for  the  Itinerancy  126 

He  extemporizes  a  Circuit 128 

In  Philadelphia 128 

The  Itinerancy  in  Operation. .   128 
Asbury's  Preaehinff  and  Spirit  130 
Wesley  appoints  him  "  Assist- 
ant "  or  Superintendent 131 

His  Labors  in  Maryland 132 

In  Baltimore 132 

A  Quarterly  Conference 132 

Asbury  forms  Classes  in  Bal- 
timore    184 

First  Methodist  Chapel  there.  135 
Asbury's  Baltimore  Circvnt. . .  188 
Quarterly  Conference 138 

CHAPTEE  VI. 

WESLEY'S    AMERICAK    MISSIONARIES, 
OONTIMTTED. 

Captain  Webb  Eecruiting  the 

American  Itinerancy 141 

Charles  Wesley  opposes  him  .  141 
Webb  Appeals  to  the  Confer- 
ence   142 

Thomas   Eankin  and  George 

Shadford 142 

Eankin's  Early  Life _. . . .   143 

Methodism     in     the    British 

Army 143 

Whitefield 143 

Eatikin's  Conversion 145 

He  becomes  a  Preacher 145 

His  Success 146 

His  Appointment  to  America.  147 
George  Shadford's  Early  Life.  148 

His  Conversion 153 

His  Usefulness 154 

He  joins  Wesley's  Itinerancy.  155 
Hears  Captain  Webb's  Appeal 
at  Leeds,   and  Departs  for 

America  155 

Wesley's  Letter  to  him 156 

ficenes  of  the  "Voyage 156 

Anival  at  Philadelphia 157 

Eankin's  Invocation 157 

Eankin   and  Asbury  in  New 

York 158 

Eankin  in  John-street  Church  158 
Shadford  in  New  Jersey 159 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

FIRST  CONTERENOE — RETURN  01"  EN- 
GLISH PREACHERS. 

Page 

First  American  Methodist  Con- 
ference    160 

Its  Members 160 

Statistics 161 

Laxity  of  Discipline 161 

Proceeding  of  the  Conference.  162 
The  Sacramental  Controversy .  163 
Eobert  Strawbridge   steadfast 

to  the  American  Claim 164 

ItsEesult 165 

Ger  n  of  the  "  Book  Concern"  165 

Appointments 166 

Eetum  of  Pilmoor  and  Board- 
man 166 

Further  traces  of  Boardman. . .  167 

His  Death 167 

Further  traces  of  PUmoor 169 

He  leaves  the  Denomination. .  169 

Eetains  his  Interest  for  it 169 

Eichard  Wright  returns  to  En- 
gland   172 

Final  traces  of  Captain  Webb.  172 
His  Death 174 

CHAPTEE  VIII. 

NATIVE   EVANGELISTS. 

William  Watters,  the  first  Na- 
tive Methodist  Itinerant ....  175 

His  Early  Life 175 

His  Conversion 179 

He  becomes  an  Itinerant 181 

Eobert  Williams ISl 

Eev.  Devereux  Jarratt _. .  182 

Great  Eeligious  Excitement  in 

Virginia 182 

Watters  on  the  Eastern  Shore 

of  Maryland 187 

Methodism  in  Kent  County. . .  188 

Its  First  Chapel 188 

Philip  Gatch,  the  second  Na- 
tive Itinerant 189 

His  Early  Life 191 

Nathan  Perigau 191 

Gatch's  Conversion 192 

He  Begins  to  Preach 194 

Itinerates  in  New  Jersey 194 

Benjamin  Abbott 195 

His  Character 196 

His  Early  History 196 

His  Moral  Struggles 197 

His  Conversion 200 

The  Fall  of  Abraham  Whit- 
forth 202 


12 


CONTENTS. 


Abbott  Begins  to  Preach 204 

Power  of  his  Word 2^5 

A  Remarkable  Example 205 

Daniel  Ruff 206 

CHAPTER  IX. 

PRINCIFAL  EVANOELI8T8,  1773,  1774. 

Rnnkin  after  the  Conference. .  208 

Pilmoor 209 

Boardman 209  j 

Rnnkin  in  Marvland 210 

A  (.Quarterly  Meeting  at  the 

Watters  HoiuesteaJ 211 

Departure  of  Pilmoor 211 

Runkiu  in  Ntw  York 211 

Shadford  in  New  York 212 

His  Character  and  Usefalnefls.  212 

Asbury  in  Maryland 214 

Exaltation  of  his  Spirit 215 

Baltimore 216 

Otterbeiu  215 

German  Methodism 217 

"United  Brethren  in  Christ".  218  | 

Sketch  of  their  History 216  i 

Death  of  Otterbeiu 219  | 

Boehm  and  Gueting 220  j 

Otterbein  and  Asbury's  Poe-         ! 

try:  Note " 221  | 

Advancement    of   Methodism 

in  Maryland 222  I 

New  Chapels 222 

Wrieht  in  Virtrinia ,. .  228  I 

Itt*  first  Two  < 'hapels ■.  228  i 

Willinius  in  Virgmia 224  ] 

Old  Brunswick  Circuit 224 

Jarratt 224  ' 

Jcs.<<e  Lee 224  ' 

Freeborn  Garrettson 225  j 

CHAPTER  X.  j 

CONFERENCE  AND  PKOOBE63  OF  1774.  j 

The  Conference  of  1774 227; 

Rankin's  Disciplinary  Rigor. .  228  | 

Asbury 228  I 

Watters  and  Gatch 229 

Statistics 229 

Prot;ret*s  in  the  Middle  Colonies  229 

The  Itinerancy 280 

Its  Effect  on  the  Ministry 230 


p..?. 
Asburj-'s  Sufferings  and  Labors 

in  New  York 231 

In  Philadelphia 283 

In  Baltimore 233 

Otterbem 23-t 

Williams's  Success  in  Virginia  234 
Asbury  and  the  Revolution. . .  235 
Perry  Hall  and  Henry  Dorsey 

Gougb 235 

Rankin  at  Quarterly  Meetings 

in  Maryland 240 

Shadfordin  Marjland 241 

Remarkable  Incident 212 

Robert  Lindsey 243 

Edward  Dromgoole 248 

Richard  Webster  244 

Their  Success 244 

Philip  Gatch  on  Frederick  Cir- 
cuit    245 

Shadford's  Rule  for  Effective 

Preaching 245 

Gatch  on  Kent  Circuit 245 

Hostile  Rencounters  240 

"  Parson  Kain  " 247 

Gatch's  Success 248 

He  Returns  to  Frederick  Cir- 
cuit     . .  24» 

Attacked  by  Ruffians 249 

Enters  New  Jersey 250 

Whitworth  and  Ebcrt 250 

Benjamin  Abbott  in  New  Jer- 
sey    251 

An  Encotinter  atDeerfield 251 

Sanclillcation 252 

Abbott  in  Salem 253 

His    Treatment    of    Diseased 

Minds 254 

His  Success 255 

Physical  Phenomena  of  Relig- 
ious Excitement 261 

John  King  and  Robert  Williams 

in  Virginia 2«2 

Jesse  Lee 263 

Jarratt 263 

Great  Success 2C3 

Additional  Missionaries  from 

England   204 

James  Dempster 264 

Martin  Rodda 265 

William  Glendenning 265 

Asbury  and  Rankin 268 


CONTENTS. 


13 


BOOK   II. 

FROM  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  REVOLUTIONARY 
WAR,  TO  THE  EPISCOPAL  ORGANIZATION  OF 
METHODISM,  1775-1784. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE     REVOLUTION    AND    METHODISM. 

Page 

Effect  of  the  Revolution  on 
Methodism 269 

Providential  Character  of  the 
Revolution 270 

It  was  the  Normal  Consequence 
of  the  Colonial  History  of  the 
Country 271 

It  was  not  at  first  Rebellion, 
but  a  Struggle  for  the  Main- 
tenance of  the  British  Con- 
stitution    272 

Chatham's  Vindication  of  the 
Colonies 274 

Effectof  the  War  on  Religion.  275 

Desertion  of  their  Church  by 
the  English  Clergy 276 

Return  of  English  Methodist 
Preachers 277 

Sufferings  of  the  Methodist 
Itinerants 277 

Asbury's  Integrity 278 

Wesley's  "Calm  Address"  to 
the  Colonies 282 

The  Sarcasm  of  Junius 282 

Wesley  and  Johnson 283 

Wesley  corrects  his  Opinion 
on  the  Colonial  Question 283 

He  Predicts  the  Success  of  the 
Americans 284 

His  Address  to  his  American 
Preachers 285 

CHAPTER  II. 

lABOES  AND  TRIALS  DURING  THE  RBV- 
OLUTIONABT   WAR. 

Asbury's  Course  respecting  the 

Revolution 288 

He  goes  to  Norfolk 289 

Alarms  of  War 289 

Burial  of  Robert  Williams 290 

Methodists  in  Virginia 291 

Asbury  on  Brunswick  Circuit .  291 

Shadford  there 292 


Page 

His  great  Success 293 

Examples 293 

Conversion  of  a  Dancing-mas- 
ter   \ 293 

Of  a  Planter 294 

The  "  Great  Revival "  of  Vir- 
ginia    295 

Jarratt's  Account  of  it 298 

Jarratt  and  Asbury 300 

Asbury  in  Baltimore 300 

His  Opinion  of  Wesley's  Pam- 
phlet on  the  Colonial  Ques- 
tion    301 

Visits  the  Hot  Sulphur  Springs  302 

On  Baltimore  Circuit 304 

His  Character 304 

Embarrassments  from  the  War  806 
Return  of  the  English  Preach- 
ers    306 

Asburj^  in  Peril 305 

In  Retirement 306 

Abduction  of  Judge  White 307 

Eminent  Methodists 310 

Judge  White 810 

Mary  White. . . .- 314 

Senator  Bassett 316 

Bohemia  Manor 318 

Judge  Barrett 319 

"Barrett's  Chapel " 319 

Asbury' sVisits  to  it  in  later  Life  320 
His  Influence  on  the  Higher 

Circles  of  Society 320 

Abroad  again     322 

His  extraordinary  Travels 323 

He  meets  Coke  at  Barrett's 
Chapel 326 

CHAPTER  ni. 

LABORS     AND     TRIALS     DURING     THE 
REVOLUTIONARY     WAR. 

Rankin  Itinerating 828 

At  Perry  Hall 328 

Joins  Shadford  in  Virginia  . . .   329 
The  "  Great  Revival"  there  . .  329 

Jarratt 331 

Rankin  Iveturns  to  England. . .  385 
His  Death 388 


14 


CONTENTS. 


Pner 

Ilis  Administration  in  America  837 

Hii  Treatment  of  Asbury 337 

Martin  Kodda 888 

ne  Intermeddles  with  Politics.  33s 
Clowe's  Rising  and  Execution.  33*^ 
Persecution  of  the  Methodista.  3Si> 

Shadford 839 

HisLastlnterview withAsbury  840 

H:*  Trials S4f) 

His  Return  to  Enjfland 841 

Furtlier  Traces  of  his  Life 341 

His  Death 342 

CHAPTER  IV. 

LABORS     AND     TRIALS      DCRINO     TUE 
REVOLUTIONARY    WAR. 

Watters   Itinerating  in  Mary- 
laud  and  Virginia .344 

Ranctification 34.S 

Watters  Locates 851 

Freeborn  Garrettson 352 

His  Early  Life 852 

His  Conversion 852 

He  Emancipates  his  Slaves      .  8.'S4 

Goes  about  doing  Good 354 

Begins  to  Preach 3.')5 

Ezekiul  Cooper 856 

Garrettson  Itineratingin  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  and  Delaware  350 

Scenes  in  his  Ministry 856 

Hartley  Preaching  throtigh  tlie 

Windows  of  Talbot  Jail 857 

Garrettson   Attacked    on    the 

Highway 859 

Caleb  Boyer 860 

Garrettson  Mobbed  at  Dover, .  861 

Pioneering 862 

He  is  cast  into  Prison 869 

His  Success 872 

CHAPTER  V, 

FCHTHER  REVIEW  OF  THE  PERIOD  OF 
THE   RKVOLITIOXARY   WAR. 

Philip  Gatch  itinerating 374 

Jolin  Cooper's  Trials 874 

Gatch  ana  Parson  Kain 875 

His  Rencounters  on  Frederics 
Circuit 875 


Pan 
He  is  "  Tarred"  by  a  Mob. ...  876 

Escapes  Conspirators 877 

His  Courage 878 

On  Hanover  Circuit 878 

Jarratt 878 

Trials  on  Sussex  Circuit 879 

He  Locates 880 

HLs  continued  Usefulness 880 

Emancipates  his  Slaves 880 

Simplicity    of    the    Primitive 

Minute's 381 

Benjamin  Abbott  in  New  Jer- 
sey   881 

"Wonderful  Physical  Effects  of 

his  Preaching 882 

Methodist    Opinion    on    such 

Phenomena 883 

Abbott's  Character 384 

His  Colloquial  Ministrations  . .   3^7 
He  goes  abroad  preaching  in 

New  Jersey 8^7 

Extraordinary  Examples  of  his 

Usefulness 887 

James  Sterling 3Jt2 

Abbott  and  Sterling  in  Dela- 
ware and  Pennsylvania 392 

Remarkable  Scenes :i'M 

Martin  Boehm 8!'5 

Abbott  among  the  Gennans. . .  896 
"  Physical  Phenomena  "  again  3'.'7 

Scenes  in  Marjland 401 

Abbott's  "  Thunder-gust  Ser- 
mon " 402 

Revisits  Delaware 408 

Extraordinary  Effects 405 

Jesse  Lee 4<J6 

He  preaches  in  a  Military  Camp  408 
Description  of  a  Primitive  Con- 
ference    410 

His  Labors  and  Character. . .    411 
Methodism  during  the  Revolu 

tion 415 

Church  building 416 

Startling  Scene  in  Salem,  N.J.  417 

The  British  in  New  York 417 

John-street  Church 418 

JohnMann  and  Samuel  Spraggs  418 

British  Persecutions 421 

Central  Methodism 421 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH. 


INTEODUCTION. 

Wesley  and  "Watt  —  The  Steam-Engine  —  Its  Importance  to  Amenca  — 
Necessity  of  tlie  Methodist  System  for  the  Moral  Wants  of  the  Coim- 
try  —Development  of  the  Nation  after  the  Revolution  —  Great  Growth 
of  its  Population— The  "  Great  West"  — Ecclesiastical  Methods  of 
Methodism  —  Its  Development  in  England  — It  is  not  a  new  Dog- 
matic System  —  Its  Theology  —  Arminianism  —  Whitelield  —  John 
and  Charles  Wesley  —  Bishop  Bohler  — The  Genius  of  Methodism  — 
Evangelical  Life — Development  of  its  Ecclesiastical  Peculiarities - 
Its  Catholicity  —  Its  Persecutions — Its  Success. 

In  the  year  11 51  John  Wesley,  traveling  and  preaching, 
night  and  day,  throughout  the  United  Kingdom,  arrived 
ia  Glasgow.  He  "  walked  to  its  College,  saw  the  new 
library,  with  the  collection  of  pictures,"  and  admired 
examples  of  the  art  of  Raphael,  Vandyke,  and  Rubens. 
Had  he  possessed  the  foresight  of  the  Hebrew  seers,  he 
would  have  paused,  as  he  crossed  the  University  quad- 
rangle, to  admire  a  coming  aud  nobler  proof  of  genius ; 
for  it  was  in  this  same  year  that  a  young  man,  obscure, 
diffident,  but  with  a  mind  burdened  with  mighty  antici- 
pations, and  destined  to  become  recognized  as  a  chief 
benefactor  of  the  human  race,  came  to  Glasgow  to  seek 
employment  as  an  artisan,  where,  failing  to  find  it  among 
the  citizens,  he  found  sympathy  in  the  learned  Faculty 


16  HISTORT    OF    TnE 

of  the  University,  anrl  was  allowed  a  humble  chamber 
within  its  walls.  The  romn  is  reached  from  the  quad- 
rangle by  a  spiral  stairway,  and  is  still  preserved  in  its 
original  rudeness,  as  too  sacred  to  be  altered.  In  the 
court  below  he  put  out  a  sign  ^s  "  Mathematical  Instru- 
ment Maker  to  the  University."  He  lived  on  poor  fare, 
and  elced  out  his  subsistence  by  combining,  with  his 
work  for  the  Faculty,  the  manufactiire  of  musical  instru- 
ments ;  he  made  organs,  and  repaired  flutes,  guitars,  and 
violins;  but  meanwhile  studied  assiduously  the  laws  of 
physics,  that  he  might  apply  them  in  an  invention  which 
was  to  produce  the  "greatest  commercial  and  social  rev- 
olution in  the  entire  history  of  the  world,'"  a  revolution 
with  which  Methodism  was  to  have  important  relations. 
After  some  years  of  struggle  with  want,  sickness,  the 
treachery  of  men,  and  the  disappointment  of  his  hopes, 
James  Watt,  the  young  artisan  of  Glasgow  University, 
gave  to  the  world  the  Steam-Engine,  and  to-day  the 
aggregate  steam-power  of  Great  Britain  alone  equals  the 
manual  capability  for  labor  of  more  than  four  hundred 
millions  of  men ;  more  than  twice  the  number  of  males 
capable  of  labor  on  our  planet.*  Its  aggregate  power 
throughout  the  earth  is  equal  to  the  male  capacity,  for 
manual  work,  of  five  or  six  worlds  like  ours.  The  com- 
merce, the  navigation,  the  maritime  warfare,  the  agricul 
ture,  the  mechanic  arts  of  his  race  have  been  revolution- 
ized by  the  genius  of  this  young  man.  His  invention  was 
introduced  into  Manchester  about,  seventy  years  ago,  but 
now,  in  that  city  and  its  vicinity,  are  more  than  fifty  thou- 
sand boilers,  with  an  aggregate  power  of  a  million  horses, 

•  Quarterly  Review,  London,  1858. 

«  Emerson  (English  Traits,  chap.  10,)  enlargcfl  the  estimate  a  third : 
"  Equal  to  six  hundred  millions  of  men,  one  man  being  able,  by  the  aid 
of  steam,  to  do  the  work  which  required  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  to 
accomplish  fifty  years  ago." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  17 

The  invention  of  the  steam-engine  was  more  important 
to  the  new  than  to  the  old  world.  It  was  vastly  import- 
ant to  the  latter  through  the  former,  for  it  was  the 
potent  instrument  for  the  opening  of  the  boundless 
interior  of  the  North  American  continent  to  the  emigra- 
tion of  the  European  populations,  and  the  development 
of  that  immense  commerce  which  has  bound  together 
and  enriched  both  worlds,^  and  by  which  New  York 
city  alone  now  exceeds,  in  amount  of  tonnage,  more  than 
twice  over,  all  the  commercial  marine  of  Great  Britain  in 
the  year  before  Watt's  invention.* 

The  great  rivers  of  the  new  world,  flowing  with  swift 
current,  could  convey  their  barges  toward  the  sea,  but 
admitted  of  no  return.  The  invention  of  Watt,  apphed 
by  the  genius  of  Fulton,  has  conquered  their  resistance, 
and  opened  the  grand  domain  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
for  the  formation  of  mighty  states  in  a  single  generation, 
and  marshaled  the  peoples  of  Europe  to  march  into  the 
wilderness  in  annual  hosts  of  hundreds  of  thousands. 

Wesley,  who  might  have  saluted,  in  the  quadrangle  ol 
Glasgow  University,  the  struggling  and  dependent  man 
whose  destiny  it  was  to  achieve  these  stupendous 
changes,  was  himself  actually  preparing  the  only  means 
that  could  supply  the  sudden  and  incalculable  moral 
wants  which  they  were  to  create.  Methodism,  with  its 
"lay  ministry"  and  its  "itinerancy,"  could  alone  afford 
the  ministrations  of  religion  to  the  overflowing  popula- 
tion ;  it  was  to  lay  the  moral  foundations  of  many  of  the 

3  As  late  as  1784  an  Amencan  vessel  took  to  Liverpool  eight  bales  ol 
cotton ;  the  custom  officers  did  not  believe  they  could  have  come  from 
America,  and  seized  them  as  contraband.  In  1857  LiveriDool  imported 
a  million  and  a  half  bales  of  cotton  from  the  United  States.  (London 
Quarterly  Review,  1859.) 

4  Compare  article  "  Watt,"  in  Appleton's  Biographical  Encyclopedia, 
with  Bancroft's  History  of  tlie  United  States,  vol.  v,  p.  159. 

A— 2 


18  HISTORY    OF    THE 

great  slates  of  the  West.  The  older  Churehes  of  the 
colonies  could  never  have  sujiplie*!  thera  with  "reg- 
ular" or  educated  pastors  in  any  ])roportion  to  their 
rapid  settlement.  And  in  the  sudden  growth  of  man- 
uficturing  cities  in  both  England  and  America,  occa- 
sioned )>y  Watt's  invention,  Methodism  was  to  lind 
some  of  the  most  urgent  necessities  for  its  peculiar 
provisions. 

Watt  and  Wesley  might  well  then  have  struck  hands 
.and  bid  each  other  godspeed  at  Glasgow  in  1757:  they 
were  co-workers  for  the  destinies  of  the  new  world. 

The  rapid  settlement  of  the  continent,  especially  after 
the  Kevolution,  presented  indeed  a  startling  problem  to 
the  religious  world.  Philosophers,  considering  only  its 
colonial  growth,  anticipated  for  it  a  new  era  in  civiliza- 
tion. Hume  perceived  there  "the  seeds  of  m.any  a  noble 
state — an  asylum  for  liberty  and  science."  Montesquieu 
predicted  for  it  freedom,  prosperity,  and  a  great  people ; 
Turgot,  that  "  Europe  herself  should  find  there  the  per- 
fection of  her  political  societies  and  the  firmest  support 
of  Iier  well-being."  Berkeley  pointed  to  it  as  the  seat 
of  future  empire.  Locke  and  Shaftesbury  studied  out  a 
constitutional  polity  for  a  part  at  least  of  its  empire. 
The  fervid  spirit  of  Edwards,  seeing,  with  Bossuet,  in  all 
history  only  the  "  History  of  Redemption,"  dreamed,  in 
Ills  New  England  retirement,  of  a  millennium  which  was 
to  dawn  in  the  new  world,  and  thence  burst  upon  the 
nations  and  irradi.ate  the  globe.  The  coming  Revolution 
was  discerned,  and  its  vast  conserpiences  anticipated  by 
sagacious  minds  a  half-century  before  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  The  frequent  Indian  wars,  and  especially 
the  "Old  French  War,"  concluded  but  twelve  or  thir- 
teen years  before  the  Revolution,  trained  the  whole  man- 
hood of  the  colonies  to  arms,  and  prepared  it  to  cope 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  19 

with  the  veteran  military  strength  of  the  mother  country. 
The  Treaty  of  Peace  in  1763  was  virtually  a  treaty  of 
American  Independence.  It  gave  to  England  the  domin- 
ion of  the  continent,  (excepting  the  south-western  Span- 
ish possessions,)  from  Baffin's  Bay  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
from  ocean  to  ocean.  It  was  impossible  that  this  vast 
colonial  domain  should  long  continue  under  foreign  rule. 
Choiseul,  the  astute  minister  of  Louis  XV.,  seeking  to 
retain  a  remnant  of  the  French-American  territory,  sug- 
gested to  the  English  cabinet  the  importance  of  the 
French  jurisdiction  in  Canada,  to  keep  alive  in  the 
Anglican  colonies  a  sense  of  dependence  on  British  pro- 
tection, and  failing  of  his  design,  yielded  readily,  ex- 
claiming, "  We  have  caught  them  at  last !"  France,  by 
alliance  with  the  revolting  colonies,  was  to  wreak  full 
retribution  on  her  ancient  enemy. 

The  Revolution  verified  these  anticipations,  and  in  its 
train  came  events  quite  anomalous  in  the  religious  his- 
tory of  nations.  No  Protestant  prelate  had  hitherto 
lived  upon  the  continent ;  it  now  presented  not  merely 
a  Church  without  a  bishop,  and  a  state  without  a  king, 
but  a  state  territorially  larger  than  any  other  in  the  civ- 
ilized world  without  an  ecclesiastical  Establishment.  The 
State,  separated  from  the  Church,  enfranchising  it  by 
divorcing  it.  Religion  was  to  expect  no  more  legal 
support,  except  temporarily,  in  a  few  localities  where 
the  old  system  might  linger  in  expiring.  The  novel 
example  was  contrary  to  the  traditional  training  of 
all  Christian  states,  and  might  well  excite  the  anxiety 
of  Christian  thinkers  for  the  moral  fate  of  the  new 
world.  How  were  Christian  education.  Churches,  and 
pastors  to  be  provided  for  this  boundless  territory  and 
its  multiplying  millions  of  souls?  If  the  "voluntary 
principle"  were  as  legitimate  as  its  advocates  believed, 


20  HISTORY    OF    THE 

yet  could  it  possibly  be  adequate  to  the  moral  wants  of 
the  ever-coming  armies  of  population  which,  under  the 
attractions  of  the  new  country,  were  about  to  pour  in 
upon  and  oversj)read  its  immense  regions ;  armies  far 
surpassing  the  northern  hordes,  whose  surging  migra- 
tions swept  away  the  Roman  empire,  and  with  which 
was  to  be  transferred  to  the  new  world  much  of  the 
worst  barbarism  of  the  old  ? 

Tlie  colonial  training  of  the  country  had  been,  provi- 
dentially, to  a  great  extent  religious,  as  if  preparatory 
for  its  future  history, 

Puritanism,  with  whatever  repulsive  characteristics, 
had  produced  in  New  England  the  best  example  of  a 
commonwealth,  in  tlie  true  sense  of  that  term,  which  the 
civilized  world  had  yet  seen:  the  best  in  morals,  intelli- 
gence, industry,  competence,  and  household  comfort ;  a 
people  to  whom  the  Church  and  the  school-house  were  as 
indispensable  as  their  homes.  "  We  all,"  they  declared 
in  the  "  oldest  of  American  written  constitutions,"  "  we 
all  come  into  these  parts  of  America  to  enjoy  the  liber- 
ties of  the  Gospel  in  purity  and  peace."  "He  that 
makes  religion  as  twelve  and  the  world  as  thirteen  has 
not  the  spirit  of  a  New  England  man."  Protestant  mis- 
sions were  to  have  their  birth  there :  the  colonial  provis- 
ion, in  1736,  for  "  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  Indians  " 
was  "the  first  united  Protestant  missionary  effort  in 
behalf  of  the  heathen  world."  It  preceded  by  a  genera- 
tion that  of  the  Dutch,  in  Ceylon,  under  the  auspices  of 
their  East  India  Company.  It  led  to  the  formation  of  a 
Society  for  Missions  among  the  English  nonconformists, 
which  again  led,  according  to  Bishop  Bm-net,  to  the 
organization  of  the  "Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Chris- 
tian Knowledge  "  in  the  national  Church.  In  about  half 
a  century  after  King  James's  translation  of  the  Bible, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  21 

Massachusetts  gave  it,  through  Eliot,  to  her  Indians :  the 
first  Bible  printed  in  America.    The  healthful  influence  of 
New  England  was  to  permeate  the  whole  country.     It 
was  to  give  from  its  pure  and  hardy  stock  one  third  of 
the  white  population  of  the  nation,  and   especially  to 
extend  its  race  and  type  of  character  over  all  the  northern 
tier  of  states,  from  the  Atlantic  to  beyond  the  Mississippi. 
Rhode  Island  was  settled  by  the  Baptists  for   "soul 
liberty."    K  the  Dutch  colony  of  New  York  was  founded 
chiefly  in  commercial  designs,  still  it  represented  the 
prmciples  of  the  Protestant  Reformation,     West  New 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  were  settled  by  the  Quakers  in 
the  best  spirit  of  their  peaceful  faith.     Delaware  was 
colonized  by  the  Swedes;  Gustavus  Adolphus,  the  Scan- 
dinavian hero  of  Protestantism,  designed  the  colony,  and 
designed  it  to  be  "  a  blessing  to  the  whole  Protestant 
world."     He  fell  fighting  for  his  faith  at  Liitzen,  but  left 
the  design  to  Oxenstiern,  who  zealously  promoted  it, 
declaring  that  its  "  consequences  would  be  favorable  to 
all  Christendom,  to  Europe,  to  the  whole  world."     The 
descendants  of  the  settlers  have  been  scattered  over  the 
country,  and  constitute  probably  one  part  m  two  hundred 
of  its  population.*    If  the  United  States  have  verified 
the  prediction  of  Oxenstiern,  the  Swedes  have  worthily 
shared  in  its  accomplishment.    Maryland  was  settled  by 
Roman  Catholics  with  a  religious  design— for  religious 
liberty,  and  with  a  spirit,  on  the  part  of  its  founder, 
befitting  such  a  design.    When  the  settlers,  led  by  the 
son  of  Baltimore,  first  landed,  they  "  took  possession  of 
the  province  '  for  their  Saviour '  as  well  as  for  their  lord 
the  Kmg !"     The  cavalier  colonists  of  Virginia,  if  not 
very  admirable  examples  of  their  religion,  nevertheless 
promptly  introduced  the  Church  of  the   parent  land. 
0  Bancroft's  estimate  for  1837,  vol.  iii,  chap.  15. 


22  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  first  legislature,  chosen  by  the  peojilc,  established 
the  Church,  and  the  next  year  it  had  a  pastor  for  every 
six  hundred  of  the  population.  The  colonics  of  theCar- 
olinas,  with  less  religious  interest,  felt  the  religious  influ- 
ence of  the  older  settlements,  being  founded  chiefly  by 
emigrants  from  Virginia  and  Xew  England,  with  a 
wholesome  infusion  of  Quaker,  Irish  and  Scotch  Presby- 
terian, and  Huguenot  blood  and  virtue.  The  Huguenots, 
encouraged  by  Coligny,  first  attempted  the  colonization 
of  South  Carolina  for  the  enjoyment  of  their  religion. 
They  gave  the  name  of  their  king,  Charles  IX.,  to  the 
Carolinas.  They  failed,  but  their  Protestant  countrymen 
have  not  failed  to  constitute  an  important  increment  of 
the  population  of  the  states  which  have  grown  from  the 
two  colonies,  as,  al.so,  of  the  Atlantic  states  generally 
from  New  York  to  Georgia.  After  the  revocation  of 
the  Edict  of  Nantes  they  came,  in  large  numbers,  to 
America,  and  the  Carolinas  were  their  favorite  refuge. 
Tliey  brought  with  them  "  the  virtues  of  the  Puritans 
without  their  bigotry."  Georgia  was  coloni/ed  by  Prot- 
estant Englishmen,  highland  Scots,  and  Moravians,  as 
"  the  place  of  refuge  for  the  distressed  people  of  Britain 
and  the  persecuted  Protestants  of  Europe."  The  Jew 
was  admitted,  though  not  the  Papist.  The  two  Wesleys 
accompanied  thither  its  founder,  the  benevolent  Ogle- 
thorpe, the  friend  of  their  father  and  the  friend  of  all 
men.  It  was  Whitefield's  favorite  resort  among  the  col- 
onies. It  interdicted  spirituous  liquors  and  slavery. 
The  Cap  of  Liberty  was  on  its  seal ;  and  its  motto — No7i 
sill  scd  aliis^  Not  for  themselves  but  others — declared 
the  philanthropic  purpose  of  its  projectors.® 

•  "  It  is  remarkable  that  in  every  charter  granted  to  the  Southern 
colonies  the  '  propagation  of  religion '  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  renaona 
for  the  planting  of  them."    Baird  :  Religion  in  America,  book  iii,  p.  G. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  23 

Thus  were  most  of  the  colonies  founded  in  religious 
motives,  their  infancy  moulded  by  religion,  their  adoles- 
cence invigorated  and  hardened  by  war — the  preparation 
for  their  independence  and  liberty,  and  for  a  new  civili- 
zation which  should  be  based  on  the  sovereignty  of  the 
people,  and  should  emancipate  the  new  world  from  the 
ecclesiastical  and  political  traditions  of  the  old. 

But  now  came  a  solemn  crisis  in  the  history  of  these 
providentially  trained  populations,  scattered  almost  from 
the  frozen  zone  to  the  tropics,  treading  a  virgin  soil  of 
exhaustless  resources,  and  flushed  with  the  consciousness 
of  a  new  development  of  humanity.  Their  territory  was 
to  enlarge  more  than  two  thirds ;  their  population  beyond 
any  recorded  example.  Though,  in  their  colonial  growth, 
Edwards,  inspired  by  the  "  Great  Awakening,"  saw  the 
vision  of  the  millennium  flashing  upon  their  mountains 
and  valleys,  yet  the  Revolution  and  national  consolida- 
tion, endowing  them  with  new  and  unexampled  powers, 
oppressed  them  with  new  problems.  A  state  may  exist 
without  a  king,  a  Church  without  a  bishop,  a  nation 
without  an  ecclesiastical  establishment ;  but  a  people 
cannot  be  without  religion,  without  God ;  they  had  better 
cease  to  be.  And  where  now,  with  a  political  system 
which  recognized  no  one  religion  by  tolerating  all, 
which  made  no  provision  for  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 
people,  should  men,  who  believed  religion  to  be  the  fun- 
damental condition  of  civil  righteousness  and  liberty,  look 
for  the  safety  of  the  marvelous  destiny  that  had  opened 
upon  the  new  world? 

The  Revolution  ended  with  the  treaty  of  peace  in  1783, 
and  then  corhmenced  a  national  progress  never  anticipa- 
ted in  the  most  sanguine  dreams  of  statesmen.  The 
inventive  genius  of  Watt  and  Fulton  was  to  wave  a  wand 
of  miraculous  power  over  the  land;  and  not  only  the 


24  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  stretching  over  twenty  degrees 
of  latitude  and  thirty  of  longitude,  with  twelve  millions 
of  souls  in  our  day,  was  to  open,  like  a  new  world,  to 
navigation  and  settlement ;  but  the  nearly  seven  thousand 
miles  of  "  principal  rivers  "  flowing  into  the  Atlantic,  the 
nearly  five  thousand  flowing  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  the 
eighteen  thousand  flowing  into  the  Mississippi — the  sea 
river ;  the  five  thousand  flowing  into  the  Pacific :  the 
thirty-five  thousand  miles  of  principal  rivers — above  a 
third  more  than  the  circumference  of  the  globe ;  besides 
the  minor  streams,  making,  with  the  former,  more  than 
forty  thousand  miles  of  navigable  waters,  were  to  be 
thrown  open  as  the  liighways  of  population  and  com- 
merce. The  masses  of  Europe,  in  millions,  were  to  enter 
these  highways.  The  growth  of  population  was  to 
transcend  the  most  credulous  anticipations.  The  one 
million  and  a  quarter  (including  blacks)  of  1750,  the  less 
than  three  millions  of  1780,  were  to  be  nearly  four  mill- 
ions in  1790;  nearly  five  and  a  third  millions  in  1800; 
more  than  nine  and  a  half  millions  in  1820;  nearly  thir- 
teen millions  in  1830.  Thus  far  they  were  to  increase 
neai'ly  thirty-three  and  a  half  per  cent,  in  each  decade. 
Pensioners  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  were  to  live  to 
see  the  "  Far  West"  transferred  from  the  valleys  of  Vir- 
ginia, the  eastern  base  of  the  Pennsylvania  Alleghanies, 
and  the  center  of  New  York,  to  the  great  deserts  beyond 
the  ^Mississippi ;  to  see  mighty  states,  enriching  the 
world,  flourish  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  to  read,  in  New 
York,  news  sent  the  same  day  from  San  Francisco. 
Men,  a  few  at  least,  who  lived  when  the  population  of 
the  country  was  less  than  three  millions,  were  to  live 
when  it  should  be  thirty  millions.  If  the  ratio  of  increase 
should  continue,  this  population  must  amount,  at  the 
close  of  our  century,  but  thirty-six  years  hence,  to  one 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,  25 

hundred  millions;  exceeding  the  present  population  of 
England,  France,  Switzerland,  Spain,  Portugal,  Sweden, 
and  Denmark.  A  step  further  in  the  calculation  presents 
a  prospect  still  more  surprising :  by  the  year  1930,  which 
not  a  few  living  in  our  day  shall  see,  this  mighty  mass  of 
commingled  races  will  have  swollen  to  the  aggregate  of 
two  hundred  and  forty-six  millions,  nearly  equaling  the 
present  population  of  all  Europe. 

This  growth  of  population,  could  it  take  place  in  an 
old  country,  supplied  for  ages  with  religious  and  educa- 
tional foundations,  would  suggest  anxious  moral  questions 
to  the  reflections  of  the  philosopher  and  Christian ;  but 
here  it  was  to  occur  in  the  wildernesses  of  savage  life. 
"Westward  the  star  of  empire  takes  its  way,"  sang 
Berkeley  as  he  contemplated  the  grand  prospect ;  to  the 
West  this  overwhelming  flood  was  to  sweep,  and  thither 
was  to  move  with  it  the  power  of  the  nation,  the  political 
forces  w^hich  were  to  take  their  moral  character  from 
these  multitudes  and  impart  it  to  the  nation,  if  not  to 
much  of  the  rest  of  the  world.  The  center  of  "  repre- 
sentative population"  has  continually  tended  westward. 
In  1790  it  was  twenty-two  miles  east  of  Washington ;  it 
has  never  been  east  of  the  national  metropolis  since,  and 
never  can  be  again.  At  the  census  of  1800  it  had  been 
transferred  thirty  miles  west  of  Washington ;  in  1820  it 
was  seventy-one  miles  west  of  that  city;  in  1830  one 
hundred  and  eight  miles.  Its  westward  movement  from 
1830  to  1840  was  no  less  than  fifty-two  miles ;  more  than 
five  miles  a  year.  During  about  fifty  years  it  has  kept 
nearly  the  same  parallel  of  latitude,  having  deviated  only 
about  ten  miles  southward,  while  it  has  advanced  about 
two  hundred  miles  westward.  Thus  were  the  political 
destinies  of  the  country  to  move  into  the  "  Great  West," 
the  arena  of  its  moral  and  religious  struggles. 


26  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Obviously  then  the  ordinary  means  of  religious  instruc* 
tion — a  "settled"  pastorate,  a  "regular"  clergy,  trained 
through  years  of  preliminary  education — could  not  pos- 
sibly meet  the  moral  exigencies  of  such  an  unparalleled 
condition.  Any  unfavorable  contingencies,  hanging  over 
the  federal  organization  or  unity  of  the  nation,  could 
hardly  affect  these  exigencies,  except  to  exasperate  them. 
A  religious  system,  energetic,  migratory,  "itinerant," 
extempore,  like  the  population  itself,  must  arise;  or 
demoralization,  if  not  barbarism,  must  overflow  the  con- 
tinent. 

^lelhodism  entered  the  great  arena  at  the  emergent 
moment.  It  was  preparing  to  do  so  while  Wesley  stood 
in  the  quadrangle  at  Glasgow  beneath  the  window  within 
which  Watt  was  preparing  the  key  to  unlock  the  gates 
of  the  Great  West.  In  the  very  next  year  Wesley  was 
to  find  the  humble  man  who  was  to  be  its  founder  in  the 
United  States.  About  the  same  time  a  youth  in  Staflbrd- 
shire  was  preparing,  through  many  moral  struggles,  to 
become  its  chief  leader  and  the  chief  character  in  the 
ecclesiastical  history  of  the  new  world,  the  first  resident 
bishop  of  Protestantism  in  the  western  hemisphere. 
Methodism  was  not  to  supersede  there  other  forms  of 
faith,  but  to  become  their  pioneer  in  the  oj)ening  wilder- 
ness, and  to  prompt  their  energies  for  its  pressing  neces- 
sities. It  was  to  be  literally  the  founder  of  the  Church 
in  several  of  the  most  important  new  states,  individually 
as  large  as  some  leading  kingdoms  of  the  old  world.  It 
was  to  become  at  last  the  dominant  popular  faith  of  the 
country,  with  its  standard  planted  in  every  city,  town, 
and  almost  every  village  of  the  land.  Moving  in  the  van 
of  emigration,  it  was  to  supply,  with  the  ministrations 
of  religion,  the  frontiers  from  the  Canadas  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  from  Puget's  Sound  to  the  Gulf  of  California. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  27 

It  was  to  do  this  indispensable  work  by  means  peculiar 
to   itself;  by  districting  the  land  into  Circuits  which, 
from  one  hundred  to  five  hundred  miles  in  extent,  could 
each  be  statedly  supplied  with  religious  instruction  by 
but  one  or  two  traveling   evangelists,  who,  preaching 
daily,  could  thus  have   charge   of  parishes   comprising 
hundreds  of  miles  and  tens  of  thousands  of  souls.     It  was 
to  raise  up,  without  delay  for  preparatory  training,  and 
thrust  out  upon  these  Circuits  thousands  of  such  itiner- 
ants, tens  of  thousands  of  Local  or  Lay  Preachers  and 
Exhorters,  as  auxiliary  and  unpaid  laborers,  with  many 
thousands  of  Class-leaders  who  could  maintain  pastoral 
supervision  over  the  infant  societies  in  the  absence  of  the 
itinerant  preachers,  the  latter  not  having  time  to  delay 
in  any  locality  for  much  else  than  the  public  services  of 
the  pulpit.    Over  all  these  circuits  it  was  to  maintain  the 
watchful  jurisdiction  of  traveling  Presiding  Elders,  and 
over  the  whole  system  the  superintendence  of  traveling 
Bishops,  to  whom  the  entire  nation  was  to  be  a  common 
diocese.     It  was  to  govern  the  whole  field  by  Quarterly 
Conferences  for  each  circuit,  Annual    Conferences   for 
groups  of  circuits,  quadrennial  Conferences  for  all  the 
Annual  Conferences.     It  was  to  preach  night  and  day,  in 
churches  where  it  could  command  them,  in  private  houses, 
school-houses,  court-houses,  barns,  in  the  fields,  on  the 
highways.      It  was  to  dot  the  continent  with  chapels, 
building  them,  in  our  times  at  least,  at  the  rate  of  one  a 
day.     It  was  to  provide  academies  and  colleges  exceeding 
in  number,  if  not  in  efficiency,  those  of  any  other  religious 
body  of  the  country,  however  older  or  richer.     It  was  to 
scatter  over  the  land  cheap  publications,  all  its  itinerants 
being  authorized  agents  for  their  sale,  until  its  "  Book 
Concern"  should  become  the  largest  religious  publishing 
house  in  the  world.     The  best  authority  for  the  moral 


28  HISTORY    OF    THE 

statistics  of  the  country,  liimself  of  auotbcr  denomination, 
was  at  last  to  "  recognize  in  the  Methodist  economy,  as 
well  as  in  the  zeal,  the  devoted  piety  and  the  efficiency 
of  its  ministry,  one  of  the  most  powerful  elements  in  the 
religious  prosperity  of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  one 
of  the  firmest  pillars  of  their  civil  and  political  institu- 
tions,"' The  historian  of  the  Kepublic  records  that 
it  has  "  welcomed  the  members  of  Wesley's  society  as 
the  pioneers  of  religion ;"  that  "  the  breath  of  liberty 
has  wafted  their  messages  to  the  masses  of  the  people ; 
encouraged  them  to  collect  the  white  and  negro,  slave 
and  master,  in  the  greenwood,  for  counsel  on  divine  love 
and  the  full  assurance  of  grace;  and  carried  their  conso- 
lation and  songs  and  prayers  to  the  furthest  cabins  in 
the  wilderness."^ 

It  has  been  said  that  Methodism  thus  seems  to  have 
been  providentially  designed  more  for  the  new  world 
than  for  the  old.  The  coincidence  of  its  history  with 
that  of  the  United  States  does  indeed  seem  providential ; 
and,  if  such  an  assumption  might  have  appeared  presump- 
tuous in  its  beginning,  its  historical  results,  as  impressed 
on  all  the  civil  geography  of  the  country  and  attested  by 
the  national  statistics,  now  amply  justify  the  opinion. 
Here,  if  anywhere,  the  results  of  Methodism  appear  to 
confirm  the  somewhat  bold  assertion  of  a  philosophic 
thinker,  not  within  its  pale,  who  affirms  "  that,  in  fact, 
that  great  religious  movement  has,  immediately  or  re- 
motely, so  given  an  impulse  to  Christian  feeling  and 
profession,  on  all  sides,  that  it  has  come  to  present 
itself  as  the  starting-point  of  our  modern  religious  his- 
tory ;  that  the  field-preaching  of  Wesley  and  White- 
field,  in  1739,  was  the  event  whence  the  religious  epoch, 

'  Baird :  "  Religion  in  America,"  p.  497. 
"  Bancroft,  voL  vLi,  p.  261. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  29 

now  current,  must  date  its  commencement;  that  back 
to  the  events  of  that  time  must  we  look,  necessarily,  as 
often  as  we  seek  to  trace  to  its  source  what  is  most 
characteristic  of  the  present  time ;  and  that  yet  this  is 
not  all,  for  the  ]M.ethodism  of  the  past  age  points  for- 
ward to  the  next-coming  development  of  the  powers  of 
the  Gospel."9 

But  what  was  this  phenomenon  of  modern  religions 
history,  this  "  religious  movement  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, called  Methodism  ?" 

It  was  not  a  new  dogmatic  phase  of  Protestantism. 
They  err  who  interpret  its  singular  history  chiefly  by 
its  theology.  Its  prominent  doctrine  of  justification  by 
faith  was  the  prominent  doctrine  of  the  Reformation. 
Its  doctrines  of  the  "  witness  of  the  Spirit "  and  of  "  sanc- 
tification  "  had  been  received,  substantially,  if  not  with 
the  verbalism  of  Methodism,  by  all  the  leading  Churches 
of  Christendom.  10  Wesley,  Fletcher,  and  Sellon  appealed 
to  the  standards  of  the  Anglican  Church  in  support  of 
their  teachings  in  these  respects.  Wesley  taught  no 
important  doctrine  which  is  not  authorized  by  that 
Church,  unless  it  be  what  is  called  his  Arminianism. 
But  even  this  was  dommant  in  the  Anglican  Church  in 
certain  periods  of  its  history.  He  interpreted  its  appar- 
ently Calvinistic  Article  by  the  history  of  the  Articles, 
and,  with  many  eminent  authorities,  denied  it  a  strictly 
Calvinistic  significance.  Arminianism  prevailed  in  the 
English  Church  under  the  Stuarts.  Sancroft,  Barrow, 
Burnet,  South,  Chillingworth,  Cudworth,  Bull,  More, 
Hammond,  Wilkins,  Tillotson,  Stillingfleet  were  Armin- 

e  Isaac  Taylor's  "  Wesley  and  Methodism :"  Preface. 

K  On  the  general  acceptance  of  the  doctrine  of  Assurance  hy  the 
Churches  of  the  Eeforraation,  see  Sir  William  Hamilton's  "Discussions 
m  Philosophy,"  etc.,  p.  508.    London. 


30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ians."  The  "Theological  Institutes  of  Ej)iscopius," says 
au  author,  but  eiglitcen  years  before  the  birth  of  Wesley, 
"  were  generally  in  the  hands  of  our  students  of  divinity 
in  both  universities  as  the  best  syslem  of  divinity  that 
had  appeared.'"*  Arminianisin  liad  spread,  "  as  is  well 
known,  over  much  of  the  Protestant  regions  of  Europe, 
The  Lutheran  Churches  came  into  it;  and  in  England 
there  was  a  predisposing  bias  in  the  rulers  of  the  Church 
toward  the  authority  of  the  primitive  fathers,  all  of  whom 
before  the  age  of  Augustine,  and  especially  the  Greek, 
are  acknowledged  to  have  been  on  that  side  which  pro- 
moted the  growth  of  this  Batavian  Theology.""  Armin- 
ianism  had  been  tried,  then,  but  with  no  such  results  as 
acconi]>anied  it  under  Methodism.  If  it  be  rejilied  that 
its  legitimate  influence  had  been  neutralized,  by  the  lati- 
tudiuarian  errors  associated  with  it,  by  many  of  the  En 
glish  divines  mentioned,  and  by  its  great  contuiental 
representatives,  Grotius,  Casaubon,  Vossius,  Le  CI  ere, 
Wetstein,  and  innumerable  others,  yet  it  had  been  taught 
with  evangelical  purity  by  Anninius  himself  and  his  im- 
mediate associates,'*  but  with  no  such  power  as  attended 
Methodism.  In  tine,  none  of  the  important  doctrines 
taught  by  Wesley  and  his  followers  were  peculiar  to 
them.  That  their  theology  was  necessary  to  their  sys 
tem,  of  course,  cannot  be  denied ;  but,  we  repeat,  it  was 
not  peculiar  to  the  system.     It  had  existed,  every  one  of 


"  Hallam,  "Literature  of  Europe,"  vol.  ii,  p.  2S7,  Am.  ed. 

'»  Bull'8  Works,  vol.  viii,  p.  257.     1858. 

'»  Hallam,  v.  '.  ii,  p.  iC. 

'«  Professor  b;  lart,  of  Andover,  says,  (Creed,  etc.,  of  Arminius, 
Biblical  Kepository,  vol.  i,)  "Let  the  injustit-e,  then,  of  merging  Pela- 
gius  and  Anninius  together  no  more  be  done  among  us,  as  it  often  has 
been."  "Most  of  the  accusations  of  heresy  made  against  liim  [Armin- 
ius] appear  to  be  the  offspring  of  suspicion,  or  of  a  wrong  conatructior 
of  hia  words." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  31 

its  essential  dogmas,  in  the  general  Church,  without  the 
remarkable  efficacy  of  Methodism.  Calvinistic  Method- 
ism was  powerful  alike  with  Arminian  Methodism  in  the 
outset,  and  fliiled  at  last  only  by  the  failure  of  its  ecclesi- 
astical methods.  Methodism  differed  from  other  religious 
bodies,  in  respect  to  theology,  chiefly  by  giving  greater 
prominence,  more  persistent  inculcation  to  truths  which 
they  held  in  common,  particularly  to  the  doctrines  of 
Justification  by  Faith,  Assurance,  and  San ctifi cation. 
These  were  the  current  ideas  of  its  Theology,  but  they 
wei-e  rendered  incandescent  by  its  spirit,  and  effective 
by  its  methods. 

In  these  two  facts — the  spirit,  and  the  practical  system 
of  Methodism — inheres  the  whole  secret,  if  secret  it  may 
be  called,  of  its  peculiar  power. 

The  "Holy  Club"  was  formed  at  Oxford  in  1729,  for 
the  sanctification  of  its  members.  The  Wesleys  there 
sought  personal  purification  by  prayer,  watchings,  fast- 
ings, alms,  and  Christian  labors  among  the  poor.  George 
Whitefield  joined  them  for  the  same  jsurpose;  he  was 
the  first  to  become  "  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  his  mind ;" 
but  not  till  he  had  passed  through  a  fiery  ordeal,  till  he 
had  spent  "  whole  days  and  weeks  prostrate  on  the 
ground  in  prayer,"  "  using  only  bread  and  sage  tea"  dur- 
ing "the  forty  days  of  Lent,  except  on  Saturdays  and 
Sundays."  He  became  morbid  in  his  spiritual  earnest- 
ness; he  lost  the  power  of  memory  at  times;  he  "se- 
lected the  coarsest  food,  wore  patched  raiment,  un- 
cleaned  shoes,  and  coarse  gloves."  He  prayed  "till  the 
sweat  ran  down  his  face,  under  the  trees,  far  into  the 
winter's  nights ;"  but  he  escaped  at  last  his  ascetic  delu- 
sions, and  was  saved  "  by  laying  hold  on  the  cross  by  a 
living  faith;"  receiving  "an  abiding  sense  of  the  pardon- 
ing love  of  God,  and  a  full  assurance  of  faith."     He  was 


32  HISTORY    OF    THE 

hooted  and  pelted  with  missiles  in  the  streets  by  hig 

fellow-students,  but  was  preparing  meanwhile  to  go  forth 

a  sublime  herald  of  the  new  "  movement :"  a  preacher 

of  Methodism  in  both  hemispheres ;  the  greatest  preach- 

j  er,  it  is  probable,  in  popular  eloquence,  of  all  the  Chris- 

»  tian  ages. 

( 

•f  John  and    Charles    "Wesley  continue   the   ineffectual 

ascetic  struggle,  poring  over  the  pages  of  the  "  Imita- 
tione,"  and  the  "  Holy  Living  and  Dying  ;"  in  all  things 
"  living  by  rule ;"  fasting  excessively ;  visiting  the  poor 
and  the  prisoner.  They  find  no  rest  to  their  souls,  un- 
troubled, as  yet,  by  any  dogmatic  question,  but  seeking 
only  spiritual  life.  Wesley  proposes  to  himself  a  solitary 
life  in  the  "  Yorkshire  dales  ;"  "it  is  the  decided  temper 
of  his  soul."  Plis  wise  mother  intci-]ioses,  admonishing 
him  prophetically  "that  God  had  better  work  for  him  to 
do."  lie  travels  some  miles  to  consult  "  a  serious  man." 
"The  Bible  knows  nothing  of  solitary  religion,"  says  this 
good  man,  and  Wesley  turns  about  with  his  face  toward 
that  great  career  which  was  to  make  his  history  a  part 
of  the  history  of  his  country  and  of  the  world.  "  Holi- 
ness, without  which  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord,"  is  the 
cry  of  his  spirit ;  but  he  still  finds  it  not.  "  I  am  per- 
suaded," he  writes,  "  that  we  may  know  if  we  are  7iow  m 
ft  state  of  salvation,  since  that  is  expressly  promised  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures  to  our  sincere  endeavors,  and  we  are 
surely  able  to  judge  of  our  own  sincerity."  Taylor's 
Holy  Living  and  Dying  teaches  him  utter  purity  of 
motive ;  "  instantly  he  resolves  to  dedicate  all  his  life  to 
God ;  all  his  thoughts  and  words  and  actions  ;  betng 
thoroughly  convinced  there  is  no  medium."  The  dedica- 
tion is  made,  but  the  light  does  not  come.  The  two 
brothers  determine  to  seek  it  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
new  world  —  to  "  forsake  all,"  become  missionaries  to 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  83 

the  eolonists  and  savages,  and  perish,  if  need  be,  for 
their  souls.  They  accompany  Oglethorpe  to  Georgia, 
and  on  the  voyage  they  witness  the  joyous  faith  of 
Moravian  peasants  and  artisans  in  the  perils  of  storms ; 
they  are  convinced  that  they  themselves  have  no  such 
faith.  They  question  the  Moravians,  and  get  unproved 
views  of  the  spiritual  life,  but  still  grope  in  the  dark. 
They  learn  more  from  the  Moravian  missionaries  in  the 
colonies,  but  sink  into  deeper  anxiety.  They  preach  and 
read  the  Liturgy  every  day  to  the  colonists,  and  teach 
their  children  in  schools.  They  fast  much,  sleep  on  the 
ground,  refuse  all  food  but  bread  and  water.  John  goes 
barefooted  to  encourage  the  poor  children  who  had  no 
shoes.  The  colonists  recoil  from  their  severities,  and 
they  return  to  England  defeated. 

In  sight  of  Land's  End  John  writes  in  his  Journal :  "  I 
went  to  America  to  convert  Lidians,  but  O,  who  shall 
convert  me  ?  who  is  he  that  will  deliver  me  from  this  evil 
heart  of  unbelief?"  On  arriving  in  England  he  again 
writes :  "  This  then  have  I  learned,  in  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  that  I  am  'fallen  short  of  the  glory  of  God.'  I 
have  no  hope  but  that,  if  I  seek,  I  shall  find  Christ." 
"  If,"  he  adds,  "  it  be  said  that  I  have  faith,  for  many 
things  have  I  heard  from  many  such  miserable  comfort- 
ers, I  answer,  so  have  the  devils  a  sort  of  faith,  but  still 
they  are  strangers  to  the  covenant  of  promise.  The 
faith  I  want  is  a  sure  trust  and  confidence  in  God,  that 
through  the  merits  of  Christ  my  sins  are  forgiven,  and 
I  reconciled  to  the  favor  of  God."  i 

The  Moravians  meet  him  again  in  London,  where 
they  maintain  several  religious  meetings  in  private 
houses.  Both  the  Wesleys,  turning  away  from  St.  Paul's, 
Westminster  Abbey,  the  dead  Churches,  seek  light  from 
heaven  in  these  humble  assemblies.  They  become  the 
A— 3 


84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

associates  of  Peter  Bohler,  a  Moriivi;iii  inoiuJier,  and 
later  a  Moravian  bishop,  a  man  of"  learning  from  the 
University  of  Jena,  who,  in  good  Latin,  converses  with 
them  on  divine  subjects.  John  Wesley  cleaves  to  him. 
"February  7th,  1738 — a  day  much  to  be  remembered," 
writes  the  troubled  iufjuirer  when  he  first  meets  Bohler; 
"  I  did  not  willingly  lose  an  opportunity  of  conversing 
with  him."  The  Moravian  expounds  to  him  faith,  justi- 
fication by  faith,  sauctification  by  faith  ;  he  begins  to 
"  see  the  proniise,  but  it  is  afar  off."  Bohler  accompa- 
nies the  Wesleys  to  Oxford,  where  he  daily  delivers  two 
Latin  discourses  on  the  doctrines  of  grace.  A  hundred 
devout  hearers  attend  these  meetings ;  but  none  with 
more  eagerness  than  the  Wesleys.  John  Wesley  has 
many  walks  and  conversations  with  him  in  the  venerable 
cloisters  and  neighboring  groves.  After  one  of  these 
walks  Wesley  writes :  "  By  him,  in  the  hand  of  the 
great  God,  I  was,  on  Sunday,  [March  5th,  17:38,]  clearly 
convinced  of  unbelief,  of  the  want  of  that  faith  whereby 
alone  we  can  be  saved."  About  ten  days  later  Bohler 
himself  writes  in  London  :  "  I  had  an  affectionate  conver- 
sation with  John  Wesley.  lie  informeil  me  of  the  oppo- 
sition he  had  met  with  among  some  clergymen  to  whom 
he  had  unfolded  his  present  convictions,  declaring  that 
faith  was  not  yet  his  own.  He  asked  me  what  he  ought 
to  do;  whether  he  ought  to  tell  the  jteople  his  state  or 
not.  I  answered  that  I  could  give  him  no  rule  in  this 
respect,  that  he  must  follow  the  promptings  of  the 
Saviour ;  adding,  however,  that  I  earnestly  wished  he 
would  not  remove  this  grace  so  far  into  the  future,  but 
would  believe  that  it  is  near  to  him,  that  the  heart  of 
Jesus  is  o])en,  and  his  love  to  him  very  great.  He  wept 
bitterly  while  I  was  talking  upon  this  subject,  and  after- 
ward asked  me  to  pray  with  him.     I  can  freely  affirm 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  35 

that  he  is  a  poor  broken-hearted  sinner,  hungering  aftei  a 
better  righteousness  than  that  which  he  has  hitherto 
had,  even  the  righteousness  of  Christ.  In  the  evening  he 
preached  from  the  words  'we  preach  Christ  crucified,' 
etc.  He  bad  more  than  four  thousand  hearers,  and  spoke 
in  such  a  way  that  all  were  amazed — many  souls  were 
awakened."  "John  Wesley,"  continues  Bohler,  in 
another  document,  "  returned  to  Oxford  to-day.  I  ac- 
companied him  a  short  distance.  He  once  more  opened 
to  me  his  whole  heart.  I  entreated  him  to  believe  in  the 
Loi'd  Jesus  Christ,  for  that  then  not  only  he  but  many 
others  with  hhn  would  he  saved  " — a  prophetical  intima- 
tion of  the  future  career  of  Wesley,  says  a  Moravian 
authority.  "He  told  me  that  now  he  found  the  grace 
of  the  Saviour  everywhere  in  the  Bible,  and  felt  con- 
vinced that  Jesus  is  a  mighty  Saviour  and  has  done  much 
for  poor  sinners.  I  have  good  hope  that  this  friend  of 
mine  will  become  wholly  the  property  of  the  Lord."'^ 
Thus  prepared,  Wesley  attends  a  Moravian  meeting  and 
hears  Luther's  Preface  to  the  Epistle  of  the  Romans  read ; 
the  truth  breaks  upon  his  mind ;  "  I  felt,"  he  writes, 
"  my  heart  strangely  warmed ;  I  felt  I  did  trust  in  Christ 
alone  for  salvation,  and  an  assurance  was  given  me  that 
he  had  taken  away  my  sins,  even  mine,  and  saved  me 
from  the  law  of  sin  and  death."  Charles  Wesley  had 
three  days  before  experienced  the  same  change;  "  I  now," 
he  writes,  "  found  myself  at  peace  with  God.  I  went  to 
bed  still  sensible  of  my  own  weakness ;  I  humbly  hope 

•s  Bohler's  manuscript  autobiography  and  letters,  at  Bethlehem,  Pa. 
Also  his  Letters  to  Count  Zinzendorf,  published  (with  a  portrait  of 
BJ)hler)  by  Eev.  T.  Eeichel.  These  works  are  yet  untranslated.  See 
"  The  Moravian''''  {Bethlehem,  Pa.)  for  October  24,  and  November  7  and 
14,  1861.  Dr.  Sack  gives,  in  Niedner's  Zeitschrl/tfur  Jlistorische  Th&- 
ologia,  Gotha,  (second  number,  1864,)  a  historical  account  of  Wesley's 
relations  to  the  Moravians,  and  a  translation  of  bis  Journal  during  his 
visit  to  Herrnhut  in  1738. 


36  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  feel  more  find  more  so  ;  yet  confident  of  Christ's  pro- 
tection." Such  is  "  regeneration,"  according  to  Method- 
ism ;  such  the  first  great  truth  of  its  proclamation  to  the 
world. 

The  next  month  John  "Wesley  preaches  "  Salvation  by 
faith  "  before  the  University  of  Oxford.  He  has  begun 
his  career.  The  Churches. of  London  are  startled  by  his 
sermons;  by  no  new  truth,  but  the  emphasis  and 
power  with  which  he  declares  old  and  admitted  truths 
of  the  Anglican  theological  standards,  the  "  new  birth," 
the  "  witness  of  the  Spirit,"  and,  subsequently,  the  doc- 
trine of  "  sanctification,"  a  doctrine  which,  as  taught  by 
Wesley,  is  in  accordance  with  the  highest  teachings  of 
the  Anglican  Church,  "  is,"  says  a  strict  churchman, 
"essentially  right  and  important;  combining,  in  sub- 
stance, .all  the  sublime  mor.ality  of  tlie  fTreek  fathers,  the 
spiritual  piety  of  the  ^Mystics,  and  the  divine  philosojthy 
of  our  favorite  Platonists.  Macarius,  Fenelon,  Lucas, 
and  all  their  respective  classes,  have  been  consulted 
and  digested  by  him,  and  liis  ideas  are  essentially 
theirs.""  His  doctrine  of  faith  seemed  like  a  new 
truth  to  the  a])athetic  formalism  of  the  Church,  but 
it  was  the  doctrine  of  its  Homilies  and  of  its  best  the- 
ologians.'' 

The  genius  of  Methodism  was,  then,  evangelical  life,  and 
in  theology,  its  chief  concern  was  with  those  doctrines 
which  are  essential  to  personal  religion.  "What  was 
the  rise  of  Methodism?"  asked  Wesley  in  his  confer- 
ence of  1 7C5.  He  answered,  "  In  1 729  my  brother  and  T 
read  the  Bible ;  saw  inward  and  outward  holiness  therein  ; 

'•  Knox:  "Bbhop  Jebb'a  Tliirty  Years'  Correspondence,"  Let- 
ter xix. 

"  "  I  venture  to  avow  it,  aa  my  conviction,  that  either  Christian  faith 
IS  what  Wesley  here  describes,  or  there  is  no  proper  meaning  in  tho 
word."  •  Coleridge :  Note  to  Ronthey'a  Life  of  We-ley,  chap.  2o. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  37 

followed  after  it,  and  incited  others  so  to  do.  In  11  Si 
we  saw  this  holiness  comes  by  faith.  In  1738  we  saw 
we  must  be  justified  before  we  are  sanctified.  But  still 
holiness  was  our  point ;  inward  and  outward  holiness. 
God  then  thrust  us  out  to  raise  a  holy  people." 

Whitefield  had  startled  the  metropolitan  Churches 
before  Wesley's  arrival,  and,  flaming  with  apostolic 
zeal,  had  left  for  Georgia,  the  vessel  which  bore  him 
passing  in  the  channel  that  which  brought  Wesley ;  but 
he  soon  returned,  and  now  the  Methodistic  movement 
began  in  good  earnest.  Its  apostles  were  excluded  from 
the  pulpits  of  Loudon  and  Bristol ;  they  took  the  open 
field,  and  thousands  of  colliers  and  peasants  stood  weep- 
ing around  them.  They  invaded  the  fau'S  and  merry- 
makings of  Moorfields  and  Kenuington  Common;  ten, 
twenty,  sometimes  fifty,  and  even  sixty  thousand  people, 
made  their  audiences.'®  Their  singing  could  be  heard 
two  miles  off,  and  Whitefield's  voice  a  mile.  The  low- 
est dregs  of  the  population  were  dragged  out  of  the 
moral  mire  and  purified.  The  whole  country  was  soon 
astir  with  excitement ;  the  peasantry  of  Yorkshire,  the 
colliers  of  Kingswood  and  Newcastle,  the  miners  of 
Cornwall,  gathered  in  hosts  around  the  evangelists,  for 
they  saw  that  here  were  at  last  men,  gowned  and  or- 
dained, who  cared  for  their  neglected  souls.  Societies 
were  organized  for  their  religious  training;  without, 
however,  the  remotest  design  of  forming  a  sect  or  cre- 
ating a  schism.  Terms  of  membership  in  these  societies 
were  necessary,  and  thus  originated  the  "  General  Rules," 
a  purely  catholic  document,  with  not  one  dogmatic  prop- 
osition :  the  terms  of  Methodist  communion  throughout 

18  Philips's  Life  of  WMtefleld,  chap.  iv.  History  of  the  Eelig- 
iou3  Movement  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  called  Methodism, 
etc.,  i,  122. 


33  HISTORY    OF    TUE 

the  world.  Places  for  their  assemblies  must  be  provided, 
and  on  the  12th  of  May,  1739,  the  foundations  of  a 
building  were  laid  in  Bristol :  the  first  chapel  founded  by 
Methodism  in  the  world.  On  the  14th  of  November  the 
"  Old  Foundry,"  in  London,  was  opened  for  worship  by 
Wesley.''  Methodism  thus  early  began  its  edifices,  its 
material  fortifications.  In  this  year  also  its  first  hymn 
book,  its  virtual  Liturgy,  was  published.  It  is  the 
recognized  epoch  of  the  denomination. 

The  societies  need  instructors  in  the  absence  of  Wes- 
ley, who  now  begins  to  "itinerate"  through  the  king- 
dom, for  the  clergy  \v\\\  not  take  charge  of  them,  and 
exclude  them  from  the  communion  table.  Wesley 
appoints  intelligent  lajTnen  to  read  to  them  the  Holy 
Scrijitures.  One  of  these,  Thomas  Maxficld,  sometimes 
explains  his  readings;  he  is  a  man  of  superior  talents; 
the  Countess  of  Huntingdon  (now  an  influential  Method- 
ist) hearing  him  often,  encourages  him  to  preach.  Wes- 
ley, on  learning  the  novel  fact,  revolts  from  it,  for  he  is 
yet  a  rigid  churchman  ;  but  his  mother  knows  Maxfield, 
and  warns  her  son  not  to  resist  the  providence  of  God, 
for  she  believes  this  is  a  providential  provision  for  the 
great  work  begun  in  the  land.  Wesley  at  last  acknowl- 
edges the  obvious  truth,  and  thus  begins  the  lay  ministry' 
of  Methodism,  whose  ten  thousand  voices  were  soon  to 
be  heard  in  most  of  the  ends  of  the  earth.  The  societies 
multiply  faster  than  the  lay  preachers ;  these  must  there- 
fore travel  from  one  assembly  to  another,  and  thus 
begins  the  "  itinerancy."  The  travels  of  the  itinerants 
must  be  assigned  definitive  boundaries,  and  thus  arises 
the  "circuit  system."  The  societies  must  provide  for 
their  chapel  debts  and  other  expenses;  the  members  of 
that  of  Bristol  are  distributed  into  companies  of  twelve, 
<*  The  Bristol  chapel  was  begun  first,  the  Foundry  opened  first. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  39 

which  meet  weekly  to  pay  their  "pennies"  to  a  select 
member,  appointed  over  each,  and  thus  originates  the 
financial  economy  of  Methodism.  They  find  time,  when 
together,  for  religious  conversation  and  exhortation,  and 
thus  begins  the  "  class-meeting,"  with  its  "  leader,"  the 
nucleus  of  almost  every  subsequent  Methodist  society  in 
the  world,  and  a  necessary  pastoral  counterpart  to  tlie 
itinerancy.  Many  men  of  natural  gifts  of  speech,  who 
are  not  able  to  travel  as  Preachers,  appear  in  the  socie- 
ties; they  are  licensed  to  instruct  the  people  in  their 
respective  localities,  and  thus  arise  the  offices  of  "  Local 
Preachers  "  and  "  Exhorters,"  laborers  who  have  done 
incalculable  service,  and  have  founded  the  denomination 
in  the  United  States,  the  West  Indies,  Africa,  and  Aus- 
tralia. Wesley  finds  it  necessary  to  convene  his  itin- 
erants annually  for  consultation  and  the  arrangement  of 
their  plans  of  labor,  and  thus  is  founded  (June  25,  1744) 
the  Annual  Conference.  Several  of  these  bodies  have  to 
be  formed  in  the  extended  field  of  the  Church  in  the 
United  States,  and,  for  their  joint  action  on  important 
measures,  it  becomes  necessary  to  assemble  them  together 
once  in  four  years,  and  thus  arises  the  American  General 
Conference. 

Wesley  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the  greatest  of 
ecclesiastical  legislators,'^"  and  the  historian  of  his  coun- 
try has  declared  that  "his  genius  for  government  was 
not  inferior  to  that  of  Richelieu.""  Wesley  believed 
that  not  himself,  but  divine  Providence  legislated  the 
system  of  Methodism.  He  devised  no  system ;  he  but 
accepted  the  suggestions  of  Providence  as  they  seemed 
evolved  in  the  progress  of  the  movement.  To  him  expe- 
diency was  a  moral  law,  and  nothing  expedient  that  was 

"»  Buckle's  History  of  Civilization. 

"  Macaulay'B  Essays,  vol.  i,  p.  221.    Third  Lond.  Ed. 


"1 


40  HISTORY    OF    THE 

not  morally  right.  He  knew  not  to  what  his  measures 
would  come,  nor  was  he  anxious  about  the  future.  As 
yet  he  was  a  stanch  churchman :  lie  lived  and  died  loyal 
to  the  Anglican  Church.  The  Methodists,  he  insisted, 
were  not  raised  up  to  form  a  sect,  but  to  spread  "  scrip- 
tural holiness  over  these  lands."  Their  mission  being 
purely  spiritual,  their  practical  or  disciplinary  system 
was  founded  purely  in  their  spiritual  designs.  An  Ar- 
minian  himself,  Wesley  admitted  Calvinists  to  member- 
ship in  his  societies.  "  One  condition,  and  only  one,"  he 
said,  "is  required  —  a  real  desire  to  save  their  souls." 
"I  desire,"  he  writes  to  the  Methodistic  churchman,  Venn, 
"  to  have  a  league,  otfensive  and  defensive,  with  every 
soldier  of  Christ."  "  We  do  not  impose,"  he  declared, 
"in  order  to  admission,  any  ojiiniuns  whatever;"  "this 
one  circumstance  is  quite  peculiar  to  Methodism."  "  We 
ask  only,  '  Is  thy  heart  as  my  heart  ?  If  it  be,  give  me 
thy  hand.' "  "  Is  there  any  other  society  in  Great  Britain 
or  Ireland  so  remote  from  bigotry  ? — so  truly  of  a  catho- 
lic spirit  ?  Wliere  is  there  such  another  society  in 
Europe  or  in  the  habitable  world  ?"  In  organizing  the 
Methodist  Episcojial  Church,  he  gave  it  Articles  of 
Religion  abridged  from  the  English  Articles ;  but  he 
did  not  insert  or  require  them  in  the  General  Rules, 
or  terms  of  membership.  They  were  an  "  indicatory 
rather  than  an  obligatory  "  symbol,  as  we  shall  hereafter 
see. 

Though  faithful  to  the  national  Church,  he  saw,  in 
advanced  life,  that  the  treatment  of  his  people  by  the 
clergy  would  sooner  or  later  alienate  them  from  tht- 
Establishment,  but  that  and  all  other  contingencies  he 
committed  to  Divine  Providence.  His  task  was  to  work 
while  the  day  lasted ;  to  do  the  duty  nearest  to  him ; 
God  would  take  care  of  the  rest. 


""T 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  41 

Such,  then,  was  Methodism  —  such  its  spirit  and  its 
methods.  "  It  was  a  revival  Church  in  its  spirit ;  a  mis- 
sionary Church  in  its  organization.'""' 

It  spread  rapidly  over  Great  Britain,  into  Scotland, 
into  Ireland,  to  Nova  Scotia,  the  United  States,  the 
West  Indies,  France,  Africa,  India,  and  was  to  achieve 
its  most  remarkable  triumphs  among  the  Cannibal  Isl- 
ands of  the  Southern  Ocean.  Wesley  became  almost 
ubiquitous  in  the  United  Kingdom,  preaching  daily. 
His  lay  preachers  soon  filled  the  land  w^ith  the  sound  of 
the  Gospel.  Chapels  rose  rapidly  in  most  of  the  country. 
Hostilities  also  arose;  mobs  assailed  the  itinerants;  their 
chapels  were  pulled  down :  for  months,  and  even  for 
years,  riots  were  of  almost  constant  occurrence.  In 
some  sections  the  rabble  moved  in  hosts  from  village  to 
village,  attacking  preachers  and  people,  destroying  not 
only  the   churches,  but  the  homes  of  Methodists.     In 


^^  A  diurclimau  has  declared  that  when  Wesley  appeared  the  Angli- 
can Church  was  "  an  ecclesiastical  system  under  which  the  people  of 
England  had  lapsed  into  heathenism,  or  a  state  hardly  to  be  distin- 
guished from  it;"  and  that  Methodism  "  preserved  from  extinction  and 
reanimated  the  languishing  Nonconformity  of  the  last  century,  which, 
just  at  the  time  of  the  Methodistic  revival,  was  rapidly  in  course  to  be 
found  nowhere  but  in  books." — Isaac  Taylor's  Wesley  and  Methodism,^ 
pp.  56,  59.  A  high  American  authority  says,  "  That  something  of  vital 
Christianity  exists  among  professed  believers  of  every  name ;  that  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  is  generally  understood  and  preached  ; 
that  we  are  not  blind  Pharisees,  or  dead  Formalists,  or  practical  Sociu- 
ians  and  Deists ;  we  may  trace  the  cause  in  great  part  (we  cannot 
teU  how  largely)  to  the  Holy  Club  of  Oxford  Methodists." — Bibliotheca 
Sacra,  Jan.,  1864,  art.  iv.  The  results  of  Methodism  have  been  so  ex- 
traordinary that  Methodist  writers  can  hardly  record  them  (however 
legitimate  and  necessaiy  to  its  history)  without  an  apparent  tone  of  ex- 
aggeration. Such  candid  concessions  as  are  here  cited  from  non-Meth- 
odisf  ic  authorities  relieve  much  the  diiSculties  of  my  attempt  to  record 
trutlifuUy  a  providential  phase  of  our  common  Christianity,  which,  aside 
from  sectarian  biases,  must  be  grateful  to  all  devout  Protestants.  I 
know  of  no  Methodist  writers  who  claim  more  for  the  denomination 
than  is  here  accorded. 


"1 


42  niSTORY    OF    THE 

Staffordshire  "  the  whole  region  was  in  a  state  little 
short  of  civil  war."  In  Darlastou,  Charles  Wesley  could 
distinguish  the  houses  of  tlie  Methodists  hy  their  marks 
of  violence  as  he  rode  through  the  town.  At  Walsall  he 
found  the  flag  of  the  rioters  waving  in  the  market-place, 
their  head-quarters.  In  Lichfield  "  all  the  ral)ble  of  the 
country  was  gathered  together,  and  laid  waste  all  before 
them."  Tlie  storm  swept  over  nearly  all  Cornwall. 
Newcastle  was  in  tumult.  In  London  even  occurred 
formidable  mobs.  In  Cork  and  Dul>lin  they  prevailed 
almost  beyond  the  control  of  the  magistrates.  Method- 
ism had,  in  fine,  to  fight  its  way  over  nearly  every  field 
it  entered  in  Great  IJritain  and  Ireland.  The  clergy  and 
the  magistrates  were  oilen  the  instigators  of  these 
tumults.*'  Not  a  few  of  the  itinerants  were  imj)risoned, 
or  impressed  into  the  army  and  the  navy ;  some  were 
martyred.  But  the  devoted  sufferers  held  on  their  way 
till  they  conquered  the  mob,  and  led  it  by  thousands  to 
their  humble  altars.  Howell  Harris,  amid  stiM-ms  of  per- 
secution, planted  Methodism  in  Wales,  where  it  has  ele- 
vated the  poi)ular  religious  condition,  once  exceedingly 
low,  above  that  of  Scotland,  and  has  in  our  day  more 
than  twelve  hundred  churches,  Arminian  and  Calvinistic. 
Wesley  traversed  Ireland  as  well  as  Great  Britain.  He 
crossed  the  channel  forty-two  times,  making  twenty-one 
visits;  and  Methodism  h:is  yielded  there  some  of  its  best 
fruits.  Whitefield,  known  as  a  Calvinist,  and  forming 
no  societies,  was  received  in  Scotland.     His  congrega- 

**  The  cotemporaTy  books  of  McthodtHm  abound  in  proofs.  Buckle 
says,  "The  treatment  which  the  Wesleyans  received  from  the  clerufy, 
many  of  whom  were  magistrates,  shows  what  would  have  taken  pluco 
if  such  violence  had  not  been  discourajred  by  the  government.  Wesley 
has  himself  given  many  details,  which  Southcy  did  not  tliink  proper 
'o  relate,  of  the  calumnies  and  insults  to  whicli  he  and  his  followers 
were  bubjected  by  the  clergy."— Z/w/ory  of  Cicilizalion,  vol.  i,  p.  304. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  43 

tions  were  iiiiraeuse,  filling  valleys  or  covering  hills, 
and  his  influence  quickened  into  life  its  Churches.  He 
aided  Harris  in  founding  Calvinistic  Methodism  in 
"Wales.  The  whole  evangelical  dissent  of  England  still 
feels  his  poAver.  With  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  he 
founded  the  Calvinistic  Methodism  of  Great  Britain ;  but 
such  was  the  moral  unity  of  both  parties,  the  Arminian 
and  the  Calvinistic,  that  the  essential  unity  of  the  gen- 
eral Methodistic  movement  was  maintained,  awakening 
to  a  great  extent  the  spiritual  life  of  both  the  national 
Church  and  of  the  Nonconformists,  and  producing  most 
of  those  "  Christian  enterprises  "  by  which  British  Chris- 
tianity has  since  been  spreading  its  influence  around  the 
globe.  The  British  Bible  Society,  most  of  the  British  Mis- 
sionary Societies,  Tract  Societies,  the  Sunday-school,  re- 
ligious periodicals,  cheap  popular  litei'ature,  negro  eman- 
cipation, Exeter  Hall  with  its  public  benefits  and  follies,  all 
arose  directly  or  indirectly  from  the  impulse  of  Methodism. 
Whitefield  crossed  the  Atlantic  thirteen  times  and 
journeyed  incessantly  through  the  colonies,  passing  and 
repassing  from  Georgia  to  Maine  like  a  "  flame  of  fire." 
The  Congregational  Churches  of  New  England,  the 
Presbyterians  and  the  Baptists  of  the  Middle  States,  and 
the  mixed  colonies  of  the  South,  owe  their  later  religious 
life  and  energy  mostly  to  the  impulse  given  by  his  pow- 
erful ministrations.  The  "  great  awakening "  under 
Edwards  had  not  only  subsided  before  Whitefield's 
arrival,  but  had  reacted.^*     Whitefield  restored  it ;  and 

24  Dr.  Holmes  says  in  his  American  Annals,  "  That  the  zeal  which 
had  characterized  the  New  England  Churches  of  an  earlier  period  had, 
previous  to  Whitefield's  arrival,  subsided,  and  a  lethargic  state  ensued." 
Dr.  Chauncey  ("  Eeasonahle  Thoughts  on  the  State  of  Eeligion  in  New 
England")  declares  that  the  reaction  which  had  set  in  had  depressed 
the  religious  condition  of  the  colonies  to  as  low  a  point  as  tlmt  described 
in  Edwards's  Narrative. 


44  HISTORY    OF    TlIK 

the  New  England  Churches  received  under  his  labors  an 
inspiration  of  zeal  and  energy  which  has  never  died  out. 
He  extended  the  revival  from  the  Congregational 
Churches  of  the  Eastcni  to  the  Presbyterian  Churches  of 
the  Middle  States.  In  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey, 
where  Frelinghuysen,  Blair,  Rowland,  an<l  the  two  Ten- 
nents  had  been  laboring  with  evangelical  zeal,  he  was 
received  as  a  prophet  from  God,  and  it  was  then  that 
the  Presbyterian  Church  took  that  attitude  of  evangel- 
ical power  and  aggression  which  has  ever  since  charac- 
terized it.  These  faithful  men  had  begun  a  humble  min- 
isterial school  in  a  log-cabin  "  twenty  feet  long  and  nearly 
as  many  broad."  "  The  work  is  of  God,"  said  White- 
field,  "and  therefore  cannot  come  to  naught."  The 
fame  of  Princeton  has  verified  his  prediction.  "  Nassau 
Hall  received  a  IMethodistic  bajtlism  at  its  birth.  White- 
field  inspirited  its  founders,  and  was  honored  by  it  with 
the  title  of  A.M. ;  the  Methodists  in  England  gave  it 
funds ;  and  one  of  its  noblest  presidents  (I)avies)  was  a 
correspondent  of  Wesley,  and  honored  him  as  a  '  re- 
storer of  the  true  faith.'"  Dartmouth  College  arose 
from  the  same  impulse.  It  received  its  chief  early  funds 
from  the  British  Methodists,  and  bears  the  name  of  one 
of  their  chief  Calvinistic  associates,  whom  Cowper  cele- 
brated as  "The  one  who  wore  a  coronet  and  prayed." 
Whitefield's  preaching,  and  esjiecially  the  reading  of  his 
j»rinted  sermons  in  Virginia,  led  to  the  founding  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  that  state,  whence  it  has  extend- 
ed to  the  South  and  South-west.  "  The  stock  from  which 
the  Baptists  of  Virginia  and  those  in  all  the  South  and 
South-west  have  sprung  was  also  Whitefieldian.""  The 
founder  of  the  Freewill  Baptists  of  the  United  States 
was  converted  under  the  last  preaching  of  Whitefield. 
«  Meth.  Quart.  Rev.,  Oct.  1655,  and  Benedict's  Ilbt.  of  the  Baptista. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  45 

Though  Whitefield  did  not  organize  the  results  of  his 
labors,  he  prepared  the  way  for  Wesley's  itinerants  in 
the  new  world.  When  he  descended  into  his  American 
grave  they  were  already  on  his  tracks.  They  came  not 
only  to  labor,  but  to  organize  their  labors ;  to  reproduce 
amid  the  peculiar  moral  necessities  of  the  new  world 
both  the  spirit  and  the  methods  of  the  great  movement 
as  it  had  at  last  been  organized  by  Wesley  in  the  old, 
and  to  render  it  before  many  years  superior  in  the  for- 
mer, in  both  numerical  and  moral  force,  to  the  Methodism 
ofthelatter.26 

Such  is  a  rapid  review  of  the  early  development  both 
of  the  United  States  and  of  Methodism  preparatory  for 
those  extraordinary  advancements  which  both  have 
made.  The  next  year,  as  has  been  remarked,  after 
Wesley  stood  in  the  quadrangle  of  Glasgow  University, 
where  Watt  about  the  same  time  hung  out  his  sign, 
the  Methodist  apostle  stood  preaching  in  the  open  air  in 
an  obscure  village  of  Ireland  to  the  people  who  were 
destined    to   form   the    first   Methodist   Church   in   the 


2«  Figures  are  proverbially  veracious.  "We  have  authentically  the  sta- 
tistics of  the  leading  Christian  denominations  of  the  United  States  for 
the  first  half  of  our  century.  They  attest  conclusively  the  peculiar 
adaptation  of  the  ecclesiastical  system  of  Methodism  to  the  moral  wants 
of  the  country.  During  the  period  from  1800  to  1850  the  ratio  of  the 
increase  of  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  has  been  as 
6  to  1,  of  its  communicants  as  6  to  1 ;  of  the  ministry  of  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  as  4  to  1 ,  of  their  communicants  as  2§  to  1 ;  of  the  ministry  of 
the  regular  Baptists  as  4  to  1,  of  their  communicants  as  5§  to  1 ;  of  the 
ministry  of  the  Presbyterians  ("old  and  new  schools")  as  14  to  1,  of 
their  communicants  as  8J  to  1 ;  of  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  (North  and  South)  as  19|  to  1,  of  its  communicants  as  171 
to  1.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  most  if  not  all  theso 
religious  bodies  have,  during  the  whole  of  this  period,  been  more  or 
less  pervaded  by  the  Methodistic  impulse  given  by  Whitefield  and  his 
successors,  and  much  of  their  success  is  unquestionably  attributable  to 
that  fact.  See  Chris.  Adv.  &  Jour.,  Feb.  19,  I860,  and  "An  Itinerant 
Ministry ;"  a  sermon,  by  Rev.  S.  Clements,  p.  19.    New  York,  1860. 


46  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Uniletl  States.  In  two  years  more  they  arrived  at  New 
York,  in  six  years  more  they  were  organizeil  as  a  soci- 
ety, and  thenceforward,  coincidently  with  the  opening  of 
the  continent  by  the  gejiius  of  Watt  and  Fulton,  Meth- 
odism has  maintained  Christianity  abreast  of  the  prog- 
ress of  immigration  and  settlement  throughout  the  states 
and  territories  of  the  Union, 

We  are  now  prepared  to  trace  the  humble  beginnings 
«nd  extraordinary  progress  of  its  mission. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  47 


B  O  O  K  I. 

FROM   THE   ORIGIN  OF   AMERICAN   METHODISM  TO  THE 
BEGINNING   OF  THE   REVOLUTIONARY   WAR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

FOUNDERS  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

Wesley  among  the  Irish  —  The  "  Palatines  "  —  Their  Historical  Import- 
ance—Their Origin  — Their  Character  —  Their  Emigration  to  Amer- 
ica-Philip Embury  —  He  founds  Methodism  in  the  United  States  — 
Captain  Webb— Sketch  of  his  Life  and  Character — His  Style  of 
Preaching  —  Barbara  Heck  — The  First  American  Methodist  Chapel 
—  Embiiry  retires  from  New  York  —  His  Death  —  Barbara  Heck  — 
Curious  Controversy :  Note. 

John  Wesley  appreciated  the  Irish  character  in  both 
its  virtues  and  its  defects.  Ireland  was  a  favorite 
resort  to  him ;  he  crossed  the  channel  forty-two  times, 
as  we  have  seen,  spending  at  least  six  years  of  his 
laborious  life  on  the  island.  Though  he  was  some- 
times mobbed,  and  even  hung  in  effigy,  these  hostili- 
ties were  but  local,  and  could  not  affect  his  estimate 
of  the  people  generally.  They  are  "  an  immeasurably 
loving  people,"  he  writes.  During  a  sermon  in  the  open 
air  they  would  not  cover  their  heads  in  a  hail-storm, 
though  he  advised  them  to  do  so.  "  Indeed,  so  civil  a 
people  as  the  Irish  in  general  I  never  saw,"  he  says, 
"either  in  Europe  or  America."  As  "perfect  courtesy" 
could  be  found  in  their  cabins  as  in  the  courts  of  London 
or  Paris.  His  Irish  congregations  were  generally  "  in 
tears,"  but  "  the  water  spread  too  wide  to  be  deep."     He 


48  HISTORY    OF    THE 

found  it  necessary  to  preach  to  them  with  a  mure  alarm- 
ing tone  than  he  used  in  any  other  part  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  in  order  to  make  any  lasting  impression  upon 
their  versatile  minds.  Yet  Ireland  was  to  yield  him 
many  of  the  most  eminent  of  his  coadjutors :  Adam 
Clarke,  Henry  Moore,  Thomas  Walsh,  Gideon  Ouseley, 
and  scores  more.  Irishmen  were  to  found  Methodism, 
or  aid  in  founding  it,  in  the  Xorth  American  British 
Provinces,  in  the  United  States,  in  the  West  Indies,  in 
Australia,  in  Africa,  in  India.  "They  sleep  in  missionary 
graves,  awaiting  the  trumpet  of  the  resurrection,  in 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  globe  to  which  Metho<lism  has 
borne  tlie  cross," 

In  the  year  1 758  Wesley  visited  the  county  of  Limer- 
ick. Ilis  Journal  reports  there  a  singular  community, 
settled  in  Court  Mattress,  and  in  Killiheen,  Balligarrane, 
and  Pallas,  villages  within  four  miles  of  Court  Mattress. 
They  were  not  native  Celts,  but  a  Teutonic  population. 
Having  been  nearly  half  a  century  without  pastors  who 
could  speak  their  language,  they  had  become  thoroughly 
demoralized:  noted  fordrunkenncss, profanity, and  "utter 
neglect  of  religion."  But  the  Methodist  itinerants  had 
penetrated  to  their  hamlets,  ami  they  were  now  a  re- 
fonued,  a  devout  people.  They  liad  erected  a  largo 
chapel  in  the  center  of  Cotirt  Mattress.  "  So  did  God  at 
last  provide,"  writes  Wesley,  "for  these  poor  strangers 
who,  for  filly  years,  had  none  who  cared  for  their  souls." 
At  later  visits  he  declares  that  three  such  towns  as  Court 
Mattress,  Killiheen,  and  Balligarrane  were  hardly  to  be 
found  anywhere  else  in  Irelantl  or  England.  There  was 
'■  no  cursing  or  swearing,  no  Sabbath  breaking,  no  drunk- 
enness, no  ale-house  in  any  of  them."  "They  had  be- 
come a  serious,  thinking  peoi)le,  and  their  diligence  had 
turned  all  their  land  into  a  garden.    How  will  these  poor 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  49 

foreigners  rise  up  in  the  day  of  judgment  against  those 
that  are  round  about  them."' 

But  the  most  interesting  fact  respecting  this  obscure 
colony  was  not  yet  apprehended  by  Wesley,  or  he  would 
have  wondered  still  more  at  their  providential  history. 
The  Methodism  of  the  New  World  was  already  germi- 
nating among  them ;  in  about  two  years  the  prolific  seed 
was  to  be  transplanted  to  the  distant  continent,  and  at 
the  time  of  Wesley's  death  (about  thirty  years  later)  its 
vigorous  boughs  were  to  extend  over  the  land  from  Can- 
ada to  Georgia,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  shel- 
tering more  than  sixty-three  thousand  Church  members,* 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty  itinerant  preachers.  In  about 
thirty  years  after  Wesley's  death  (1 820)  American  Method- 
ism was  to  advance  to  the  front  of  the  great  "movement," 
with  a  majority  of  more  than  seventeen  thousand  over 
the  parent  Church,  including  all  its  foreign  dependencies, 
and  thenceforward  the  chief  numerical  triumphs  of  the 
denomination  were  to  be  in  the  western  hemisphere. 

But  how  came  this  singular  people,  speaking  a  foreign 
tongue,  into  the  west  of  Ireland  ? 

The  troojjs  of  Louis  XIV.,  under  Tiirenne,  devastated, 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeeth  century,  the  Palatinate, 
on  the  Rhine.  Its  population  was  almost  entirely  Prot- 
estant ;  the  strongest  reason  for  the  relentless  violence  of 
the  bigoted  monarch  and  his  army.  The  whole  country 
was  laid  waste  ;  the  Elector  Palatine  could  see  from  the 
towers  of  Manheim,  his  capital,  no  less  than  two  cities 
and  twenty-five  villages  on  fire  at  once.  The  peaceable 
peasants  fled  before  the  invaders  by  thousands  to  the 
Unes  of  the  English  general,  Marlborough.     Queen  Anne 

1  Journals,  1758,  '60,  '62. 

*  The  Minutes  of  1791  give  nearly  thirteen  thousand  more,  but  are  iiv 
accurate.    See  Bangs's  Hist,  of  M.  E.  Church,  I,  337. 
A — 4 


60  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sent  ships  to  convey  them  from  Rotterdam  to  England. 
More  than  six  thousand  arrived  in  London,  reduced  to 
dependent  poverty.  The  sympathy  of  Protestant  En- 
gland relieved  tlieir  suflerings,  and  commissioners  were 
appointed  by  the  government  to  provide  for  them.  They 
were  encamped  and  fed  on  Hlackheath  and  Camberwd'i 
C\)mmons.  Popisli  rule  and  persecution  followed  the 
invasion  of  the  Palatinate,  and  thousands  more  of  its  vir 
tuoiis  and  thrif\y  peasants  deserted  it  for  refuge  in  En 
gland  and  other  countries.  Nearly  three  thousand  were 
sent  by  the  British  government  to  America  in  1710,  and 
became  valuable  additions  to  the  colonies  of  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  North  Carolina.  Of  those  who  re- 
mained in  England  about  fifty  families  emigrated  to  Ire- 
land,* where  they  settled,  near  Kathkeale,  in  the  county 
of  Limerick.  Tlicy  were  allowed  eight  acres  for  each 
person,  young  and  olil,  for  which  they  were  to  pay  a 
small  annual  rent  to  the  proprietor,  Lord  Southwell. 
The  government  j)aid  their  rents  for  twenty  years,  made 
them  freehoMers,  and  furnished  each  man  with  a  musket, 
enrolling  him  in  the  free  yeomanry  of  the  county  as 
"  German  Fusileers."  A  list  of  those  who  "  settled  con- 
tiixuous  to  each  other  on  Lord  Southwell's  estates"  has 
been  published;  on  it  are  the  names  of  Embury,  Heck, 
Riu'klc,  Switzer,  Guier,  and  others  associated  with  the 
original  Methodists  of  New  York.  An  Irish  historian 
rejiresents  them  as  industrious,  "better  fed  and  clothed 
than  the  generality  of  Irish  peasants.  .  .  .  Tlieir  houses 
are  remarkably  clean,  to  which  they  have  a  stable,  cow- 
houses, a  lodge  for  their  plow,  and  neat  kitchen  gardens. 
The  women  are  very  industrious.  In  short,  the  Palatines 
have  benefited  the  country  by  increasing  tillage,  and  are 

'  Wexlcy  estimatca  them  at  one  hundred  and  ten  families ;  additions 
weri'  probably  made  to  their  number  after  the  first  acttlemen*. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,  51 

a  laborious,  independent  people,  who   are   mostly  em- 
ployed on  their  own  small  farms."* 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  "  Irish  Palatines,"  and  thus 
did  the  short-sighted  policy  of  Louis  XIV.  scatter  these 
sterling  Protestants  of  the  Rhine  to  bless  other  lands,  as 
his  bigoted  folly,  in  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes, 
sent  half  a  million  of  his  own  best  subjects  to  enrich,  by 
their  skill  and  virtues,  Switzerland,  Germany,  England, 
and  the  North  American  colonies.  His  attempt  to  sup- 
press Protestantism  in  the  Palatinate  led,  through  the 
emigration  of  these  Irish  settlers,  to  one  of  the  most 
energetic  developments  of  Protestantism  recorded  in  the 
modern  history  of  religion. 

"On  a  spring  morning  in  1*760  "  (says  an  Irish  author 
ity  apparently  familiar  with  the  local  facts)  "a  group  of 
emigrants  might  have  been  seen  at  the  custom-house 
quay.  Limerick,  preparing  to  embark  for  America.  At 
that  time  emigration  was  not  so  common  an  occurrence 
as  it  is  now,  and  the  excitement  connected  with  their 
departure  was  intense.  They  were  Palatines  from  Balli- 
garrane,  and  were  accompanied  to  the  vessel's  side  by 
crowds  of  their  companions  and  friends,  some  of  whom 
had  come  sixteen  miles  to  say  '  farewell '  for  the  last 
time.  One  of  those  about  to  leave — a  young  man,  with 
a  thoughtful  look  and  resolute  bearing — is  evidently  the 
leader  of  the  party,  and  more  than  an  ordinary  pang  is 
felt  by  many  as  they  bid  him  farewell.  He  had  been  one 
of  the  first-fruits  of  his  countrymen  to  Christ,  had  been 
the  leader  of  the  infant  Church,  and  in  their  humble 
chapel  had  often  ministered  to  them  the  word  of  life. 
He  is  surrounded  by  his  spiritual  children  and  friends, 
who  are  anxious  to  have  some  parting  words  of  counsel 
and  instruction.  He  enters  the  vessel,  and  from  its  side 
*  Ferrar's  "History  of  Limerick,"  pp.  413,  414. 


52  HISTORY    OF    THE 

once  more  breaks  among  them  the  bread  of  life.  And 
now  the  last  prayer  is  offered ;  they  embrace  each  otlier ; 
the  vessel  begins  to  move.  As  she  recedes  uplifted 
hands  and  uplifted  hearts  attest  what  all  felt.  But  none 
of  all  that  vast  multitude  felt  more,  probably,  than  that 
young  man.  Ilis  name  is  Philip  Embury.  His  pnrty 
consisted  of  his  wife,  Mary  Switzer,  to  whom  he  had  been 
married  on  the  27th  of  November,  1758,  in  Rathkeale 
Church;  two  of  his  brothers  and  their  families;  Peter 
Switzer,  probably  a  brother  of  his  wife ;  Paul  Heck  and 
Barbara  his  wife ;  Valor  Tettler ;  Philip  Morgan  and  a 
family  of  the  Dulmages.  The  vessel  arrived  safely  in 
New  York  on  the  10th  of  August,  17C0.  Who  that  pic- 
tures before  his  mind  that  first  band  of  Christian  emi- 
grants leaving  the  Irish  shore  but  must  be  struck  with 
the  simple  beauty  of  the  scene?  Yet  who  among  the 
crowd  that  saw  them  leave  could  have  thought  that  two 
of  the  little  band  were  destined,  in  the  mysterious  prov- 
idence of  God,  to  influence  for  good  countless  myriads, 
and  that  their  names  should  live  long  as  the  sun  and 
moon  endure?  Yet  so  it  was.  That  vessel  contained 
Philip  Embury,  the  first  Class-leader  and  local  preacher 
of  Methodism  on  the  American  continent,  and  Barbara 
Heck,  '  a  mother  in  Israel,'  one  of  its  first  members,  the 
germ  from  which,  in  the  good  providence  of  God,  has 
sprung  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
Stales  ;  a  Church  which  has  now,  more  or  less  under  its 
influence,  about  seven  millions  of  the  germinant  mind  of 
that  new  and  teeming  hemisphere !  '  There  shall  be  a 
handful  of  com  in  the  earth  upon  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tains ;  the  fruit  thereof  shall  shake  like  Lebanon  :  and 
they  of  the  city  shall  flourish  like  grass  of  the  earth.'  "' 

»  The  Irish  Evangelist,  1860.    See  also  sketches  by  Dr.  G.  C.  M 
Roberts  in  Lednum's  "Rise  of  Methodism,"  etc.,  pp.  2t5,  27. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,  53 

Philip  Embury  was  born  iu  1728  or  in  1130.^  His 
lamily  seem  not  to  have  been  among  the  original  German 
settlers  iu  Ireland,  but  to  have  arrived  there  some  years 
later.''  He  bore  among  his  neighbors  the  character  of  an 
industrious,  sober,  honest,  and  obliging  young  man. 
Gier,  an  aged  Palatine,  was  schoolmaster  to  the  little 
community  of  Balligarrane,  and  taught  Embury  the  ele- 
ments of  knowledge  in  German.  He  afterward  studied 
in  an  English  school  of  the  neighborhood.  He  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  carpenter,  and  became  skillful  in  his  craft. 
Without  remarkable  talents,  he  was  esteemed  not  only 
an  upright,  but  an  mtelligent  youth.  There  remain 
fragmentary  manuscripts  from  his  pen  which  show  that 
he  was  an  elegant  writer.  His  orthography  is  faultless ; 
the  punctuation,  and  certain  abbreviations  customary  at 
that  day,  are  given  with  perfect  accuracy.  One  of  these 
records,  in  a  bold  if  not  beautiful  chirography,  is  of  vital 

6  I  am  inclined  to  the  first  date.  "  Is  it  true  that  Philip  Embury  died 
in  1T75  ?  I  think  not.  A  granddaughter  of  Philip  Embury,  living  in 
St.  Armand,  C.  E.,  has  in  her  possession  an  antiquated  blank  book,  con- 
tainiag,  among  other  things,  the  grandfather's  family  record,  written  by 
himself.  In  the  same  book  Samuel  Embury  wrote  as  follows :  '  My  fa- 
ther, Philip  Embury,  died  in  August,  1773,  aged  forty -five  years.'  The 
record  doen  not  give  the  date  of  Embury's  birth ;  but  he  was  baptized 
'  Ye  29th  of  7ber,  [September,]  1728.'  And  as  his  own  children  were 
baptized  before  they  were  four  weeks  old,  it  is  safe  to  conclude  that  he 
was  born  in  August  or  September,  1728."— Letter  of  Bev.  G.  G.  Saxe  to 
tfie  Author. 

7  "  Another  tradition  may  not  be  as  readily  credited.  It  is  this :  That 
a  brother  of  Philip  Embury,  but  three  years  older  than  himself,  was 
bom  on  the  continent.  Whether  Philip  was  bom  there,  or  after  the 
parents  had  removed  to  Ireland,  they  are  not  so  certain,  though  some 
incline  to  think  that  he  too  was  of  German  birth  as  well  as  German 
blood.  Still  we  must  remember  that  if  P.  Embury's  brother,  but  three 
years  older  than  himself,  was  born  iu  Germany,  the  family  must  have 
emigrated  to  Ireland  some  twenty  years  after  the  main  body  of  the  Pal- 
atines. The  main  body,  if  not  all  who  settled  in  Ireland,  came  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Anne,  in  the  first  decade  of  the  cmtnij."— Letter  of  Jiev. 
P.  P.  Harrower  to  the  Author. 


I 


54  IIISTORYOFTIIE 

significance  in  his  history.  It  reads  thus :  "  On  Christ- 
mas day,  being  Monday,  the  25th  of  December,  in  the 
year  1752,  the  Lord  shone  into  my  soul  by  a  glimpse  of 
his  redeeming  love,  being  an  earnest  of  my  redemption  in 
Christ  Jesus,  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen."^ 

It  was  in  this  year,  of  his  conversion,  that  he  first  saw 
"Wesley,  who  was  then  traveling  in  the  west  of  Ireland. 
With  Gier  he  ministered  faithfully  to  his  neighbors,  as  a 
local  preacher,  in  the  intervals  of  the  visits  of  the  itin- 
erant preachers  on  their  circuit.  There  was  apparently 
a  tone  of  deep  pathos  in  his  quiet  and  somewhat  melan- 
choly nature.  He  was  difiulont ;  he  shrank  from  respons- 
ibilities, and  wept  much  while  preaching. 

It  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  on  arriving  in  New 
York  Embury,  a  Class-leader  and  also  a  licensed  Local 
Preacher  in  Ireland,  attempted  some  religious  care  of  the 
few  Methodists  who  had  accompanied  him  ;  but  they  fell 
away  from  their  steadfastness  in  the  temptations  of  their 
new  condition,  and  he,  yielding  to  discouragement,  ap- 
pears not  to  have  used  his  oflice  as  a  Preacher  till  the 
autumn  of  1 766.  One  of  our  best  authorities  in  Method- 
istic  antiquarian  researches  says:  "The  families  who  ac- 
companied him  were  not  all  Wesleyans — only  a  few  of 
them ;  the  remainder  were  members  of  the  Protestant 
Church  in  Ireland,  but  made  no  profession  of  an  experi- 
mental knowledge  of  God,  in  the  pardon  of  sin  and 
adoption.  After  their  arrival  in  New  York,  with  the 
exception  of  Embury  and  three  or  four  others,  they  all 
finally  lost  their  sense  of  the  fear  of  God,  and  became 
open  worldlings.  Some  subsequently  fell  into  greater 
depths  of  sin  than  others.  Late  in  the  year  1765  another 
vessel  arrived  in  New  York,  bringing  over  Paul  Ruckle, 
Luke  Rose,  Jacob  Heck,  Peter  Barkman,  and  Henry 
«  Wakeley'B  "  Lost  Chapters,"  chap.  2. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  55 

Williams,  with  their  families.  These  were  Palatines, 
some  of  them  relatives  of  Embury,  and  others  his  former 
friends  and  neighbors.  A  few  of  them  only  were  Wes- 
leyans.  Mrs.  Barbara  Heck,  who  had  been  residing  in 
New  York  since  1760,  visited  them  frequently.  One 
of  the  company,  Paul  Ruckle,  was  her  eldest  brother. 
It  was  when  visiting  them  on  one  of  these  occasions 
that  she  found  some  of  the  party  engaged  in  a  game  of 
cards ;  there  is  no  proof,  either  direct  or  indirect,  that 
any  of  them  were  Wesleyans,  and  connected  with  Em- 
bury. Her  spirit  was  roused,  and,  doubtless  emboldened 
by  her  long  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  them  in 
Ireland,  she  seized  the  cards,  threw  them  into  the  fire, 
and  then  most  solemnly  warned  them  of  their  danger 
and  duty.  Leaving  them,  she  went  immediately  to 
the  dwelling  of  Embury,  who  was  her  cousin.  It  was 
located  upon  Barrack-street,  now  Park  Place.  After 
narrating  what  she  had  seen  and  done,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Divine  Spirit  and  with  power  she  appealed 
to  him  to  be  no  longer  silent,  but  to  preach  the  word 
forthwith.  She  parried  his  excuses,  and  urged  him  to 
commence  at  once  in  his  own  house,  and  to  his  own 
people.  He  consented,  and  she  went  out  and  collected 
four  persons,  who,  with  herself,  constituted  his  audience. 
After  singing  and  prayer  he  preached  to  them,  and  en- 
rolled them  in  a  class.  He  continued  thereafter  to  meet 
them  weekly.  Embury  was  not  among  the  card-players, 
nor  in  the  same  house  with  them."^ 

The  little  company  soon  grew  too  large  for  Embury's 

'  Dr.  Eoberts  to  the  author.  See  Lednum's  Else  of  Methodism  in 
America,  p.  27,  and  also  a  letter  to  Wesley  signed  "  T.  T."  (Thomas 
Taylor)  ia  Atmore's  Methodist  Memorial,  (Appendix,  Manchester,  1802, 
p.  579.)  This  letter  positively  determines  the  date  of  Embury's  labors 
in  New  York.  It  will  be  observed  that  I  differ  from  most  of  our  older 
historical  writers  in  several  dates.    I  must  refer  the  reader  to  my  mar- 


56  HISTORY    OF    THE 

house ;  they  hired  a  more  commodious  room  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, where  he  continued  to  conduct  their  worship ; 
its  expenses  being  met  by  voluntary  contributions.  In  a 
few  months  there  were  two  "  classes,"  one  of  men,  the 
other  of  women,  including  six  or  seven  members  each. 
Xo  little  excitement  began  soon  to  prevail  in  the  city  on 
accoimt  of  these  meetings,  and  they  were  thronged  with 
spectators.  Three  musicians  of  a  regiment  in  the  neigh- 
boring barracks,  attracted,  probably,  by  the  peculiar 
charm  of  Methodist  singing,  were  converted,  and  liecame 
active  co-workers  with  Embury  as  Exhorters.'**  The 
lower  classes  of  the  people  received  the  word  gladly;  the 
interest  reached  the  Alms-house;  Embury  was  invited 
to  preach  there,  and  the  superintendent  of  the  institution, 
and  several  of  its  inmates,  were  soon  recorded  among 
his  converts.  Thus  American  Methodism,  like  British 
Methodism,  and  primitive  Christianity,  of  which  it  was  a 
reproduction,  began  among  the  poor,  and  thus  was  fore- 
shadowed its  honorable  mission  throughout  the  conti- 
nent and  throughout  the  world.  With  Christ  it  could 
say,  as  the  supreme  proof  of  its  genuineness  as  a  dispen- 
sation of  the  truth,  that  "the  poor  have  the  Gospel 
preached  unto  them."  Half  a  century  ago  a  historian  of 
Methodism,  himself  one  of  the  noblest  heroes  of  its  his- 
tory, remarked,  "There  are  a  few  persons  still  living  in 
New  York  who  formerly  met  in  the  Rigging-loft,  and 
are  pleased  at  the  recollection  of  what  the  Lord  did  for 
them  in  their  little  society,  when  they  were  weak  and 
ignorant  in  the  things  of  religion,  but  were  united  in 


giiial  authorities  for  my  justification.    See  also  Methodi.st  Magazine,  May, 
1807,  p.  45,  London,  and  Irish  Evangelist,  Dec.  1,  1860,  Dublin. 

10  Peter  Park's  MS.  Account  of  the  Rise  of  Methodism  in  America, 
found  among  the  papers  of  Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper;  communicated  to 
the  author  by  Rev.  Dr.  I.  T.  Cooper. 


RIGGING    LOFT,    NEW    YORK. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  57 

Christian  fellowship,  and  were  willing  to  be  despised  for 
the  sake  of  their  Lord  and  Master."" 

About  February,  1767,"  the  little  assembly  at  Em- 
bury's house  were  surprised,  if  not  alarmed,  by  the  ap- 
pearance among  them  of  a  stranger  in  military  costume, 
girt  with  his  sword.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  royal 
army.  "  All  eyes  were  upon  him  ;  had  he  come  to  per- 
secute them,  to  interrupt  their  religious  services,  or  pro- 
hibit them  from  worshiping?""  He  soon  relieved 'their 
apprehensions  by  his  devout  participation  in  their  devo- 
tions. When  they  sung  he  rose  with  them,  when  they 
prayed  he  knelt.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service  he  in- 
troduced himself  to  the  preacher  and  his  leading  breth- 
ren as  Captain  Thomas  Webb,  of  the  king's  service,  but 
also  "  a  soldier  of  the  cross,  and  a  sj^iritual  son  of  John 
Wesley.  They  were  overjoyed,  and  hailed  him  as  a 
'  brother  beloved.'  "  He  had  been  authorized  by  Wes- 
ley to  preach ;  they  offered  him  their  humble  desk,  and 
thenceforward  Captain  Thomas  Webb  was  to  be  one  of 
the  chief  founders  of  American  Methodism. 

A  very  interesting  character  is  this  "  good  soldier  of 
the  Lord  Jesus."  "  The  brave  are  generous,"  says  the 
old  maxim.  Thomas  Webb's  benignant  face  showed  that 
he  had  both  qualities.  It  presented  the  lineaments  of  a 
singularly  tender,  a  fatherly  heart,  and  there  was  no  little 
"fire"  and  pathos  in  his  elocution.  He  wore  a  shade 
over  one  of  his  eyes,  a  badge  of  his  courage;  for  he  had 
been  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg,  and  had  scaled  with  Wolfe 
the  Heights  of  Abraham,  and  fought  in  the  battle  of 
Quebec,  the  most  important  military  event,  before  the 
Revolution,  in  the  history  of  the  continent ;  for  by  it  the 

"  Lee's  History  of  the  Methodists,  p.  25.    Baltimore,  1810. 
"  Letter  of  "  T.  T."  to  Wesley,  Atmore,  App.,  580. 
»8  Wakeley,  chap.  4. 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Papal  doTTiination  of  France  was  overthrown  in  the 
North,  and  the  country,  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  fi-ora  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  placed  under 
Protestant  control,  and  opened  for  its  great  career  in 
Christian  civilization. 

Captain  Webb  lost  his  right  eye  at  Louisburg"  and 
was  wounded  in  his  right  arm  at  Quebec.  About  eight 
years  after  the  battle  of  the  Plains  of  Abraham  iie  heard 
John  Wesley  preach  in  Bristol ;  he  now  became  a  de- 
cidedly religious  man,  and,  in  1 705,  joined  a  Methodist 
society.  Entering  a  Methodist  congregation  at  Bath, 
which  was  disappointed  by  its  circuit  preacher,  be  ad- 
vanced to  the  altar,  in  his  regimentals,  and  addressed 
them  with  great  effect,  chietly  narrating  his  own  Chris 
tian  experience.  Wesley,  ever  vigilant  for  "helpers," 
licensed  him  tt>  preach,  and  through  the  remainder  of  his 
life  he  was  indefatigable  in  Christian  labors  both  in  the 
New  World  and  in  the  Old;  preaching,  giving  his  money, 
founding  societies,  and  attending  Conferences.  Asbury 
characterized  him  as  '•  an  Israelite  indeed."  Wesley, 
who  delighted  in  the  disciplinary  regularity,  the  obedi 
ence  and  courage  of  military  men,  not  a  few  of  whom 
entered  his  itinerant  ranks,  evidently  loved  the  good  cap- 
tain.    "  lie  is  a  man  of  fire,"  wrote  the  great  founder, 

>«  Wes.  Mag.,  1^9,  p.  3S0.— "  A  ball  hit  him  on  the  bone  which 
guards  the  right  eye,  and  taking  an  oblique  direction,  burst  the  eyeball, 
and  passing  through  the  palate  into  his  mouth,  he  swallowed  it.  Ilis 
only  recollection  was  a  flash  of  light,  which  accompanied  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  eye.  The  wounded  were  put  into  a  bout,  and  having  crossed 
the  water,  all  were  assisted  to  land  excepting  Webb,  of  whom  one  of 
the  men  said,  ' He  needs  no  help;  he  Ls  dead  enough.'  His  senses  had 
returned,  and  he  was  just  able  to  reply,  '  No,  I  am  not  dead.'  Three 
months  passed  away  before  he  could  again  attend  to  his  militarj'  duties. 
May  we  not  ask.  Do  the  annals  of  surgery  record  a  mf«re  wonderful  es- 
cape? Had  the  ball  stmck  him  a  hair's  breadth  higher  or  lower  it 
would  have  taken  his  life  1  He  had  yet  a  great  work  to  do  for  his  heav- 
enly Master,  and  for  this  he  was  pre8e^^•ed." 


^^^p') 

^  / 


(■/  //te'  'JycJA-f/tj/t 


■ii«-s  m.-imerii'a. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  59 

"and  the  power  of  God  constantly  accompanies  his 
word."  He  heard  Webb  in  the  Old  Fonndry,  Lon- 
don, and  writes,  "  I  admire  the  wisdom  of  God  in  still 
raising  up  various  Preachers,  according  to  the  vari- 
ous tastes  of  men.  The  captain  is  all  life  and  fire ;  there- 
fore, although  he  is  not  deep  or  regular,  yet  many,  who 
would  not  hear  a  better  preacher,  flock  to  hear  him, 
and  many  are  convinced  under  his  preaching."  He 
records,  again,  that  he  had  "kindled  a  flame"  in  Bath, 
"  and  it  has  not  yet  gone  out."  "  I  found  his  preaching 
in  the  street  in  "Winchester  had  been  blessed  greatly. 
Many  were  more  or  less  convinced  of  sin,  and  several  had 
found  peace  with  God.  I  never  saw  the  house  before  so 
crowded  with  serious  and  attentive  hearers."  The  brave 
captain's  word  "in  the  street  in  Winchester"  was  to  sound 
further  than  Wesley  supposed  when  he  made  this  entry 
in  his  journal.  There  were  soldiers  in  the  town,  and 
Webb  always  drew  such  to  his  congregations ;  some  of 
them  were  converted,  and  their  regiment  was  afterward 
sent  to  the  Norman  Isles  in  the  Channel.  They  wrote 
back  for  a  Methodist  Preacher ;  if  one  were  sent  who 
could  speak  both  French  and  English  they  predicted  that 
"  the  Gospel  would  shine  over  the  islands."  The  sainted 
Robert  Carr  Brackenbury,  "gentleman"  and  "Local 
Preacher,"  Alexander  Killham,  (founder  of  the  "  New 
Connection  Methodists,")  and,  later,  Adam  Clarke,  were 
sent,  and  Methodism  was  founded  in  the  beautiful  Chan- 
nel Islands,  where  it  has  ever  since  flourished,  and  whence 
it  sent  forth  at  last  the  evangelists  who  have  founded  it 
in  I'rance. 

For  eleven  or  twelve  years  we  catch  glimpses  of  the 
military  evangelist  in  the  Journals  of  Wesley.  The  last 
of  them  is  in  1785,  when,  being  at  Salisbury,  where  the 
captain  had  recently  preached,  he  "  endeavored  to  avail 


60  HISTORY    OF    THE 

himself  of  the  fire  which"  that  veteran  "seldom  fails  to 
kindle."  Fletcher  of  Madeley  ai)preciated  him,  and  tried 
hard  \nth  him  to  iudiice  Benson,  the  commentator,  to 
throw  himself  into  the  Methodistic  movement  in  America. 
Fletcher  himself,  doubtless  by  the  influence  of  Webb, 
liad  strong  thoughts  of  doing  so,  but  his  health  forbade  it. 

The  allusions  to  Webb  in  the  cotemporary  j>\iblica- 
tions  of  Methodism  show  that  be  was  a  man  of  profound 
piety.  "  He  experienced  much  of  the  power  of  religion 
in  his  own  soul,"  says  an  itinerant  who  usually  lodged  at 
his  home  in  Bath.  "  lie  wrestled  day  and  night  with 
God  for  that  degree  of  grace  which  he  stood  in  need  of 
that  he  might  stand  firm  as  the  beaten  anvil  to  the  stroke, 
and  he  was  favored  with  those  communications  from 
above  which  made  him  bold  to  declare  the  whole  counsel 
of  God.  His  evidence  of  the  favor  of  God  was  so  bright 
that  he  never  lost  a  sense  of  that  blessed  truth, '  the  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.'  For  him  to 
live  was  Christ,  to  die  was  gain."'' 

There  must  have  been  an  eminent  power  of  natural 
eloquence  in  the  preaching  of  this  zealous  man.  John 
Adams,  the  statesman  of  the  American  Revolution  and 
President  of  tlie  liepublic,  heard  him  with  admiration,  and 
•lescribes  him  as  "the  old  soldier — one  of  the  most  elo- 
(juent  men  I  ever  heard ;  he  reaches  the  imagination  and 
touches  the  passions  very  well,  and  expresses  himself 
with  great  propriety."  By  another  hearer  he  is  spoken 
v(  as  "  a  perfect  Whitefield  in  dedaipation."  His  dis- 
courses were  very  effective,  as  has  been  remarked,  with 
military  men.  They  admired  his  noble  mien  and  com- 
manding voice.  One  of  them,  John  Parsons,  heard  him 
in  the  open  air  at  Salisbury,  and  has  left  us  a  brief  repre- 
Bentation  of  his  manner.  "  With  all  that  reverence," 
>»Wes.  Mag.,  1S35,  p.  12. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  61 

says  the  account,  "  which  he  had  been  wont  to  pay  to 
his  superiors,  he  stood  before  the  preacher,  (whose  pierc- 
ing eye  he  thought  scrutinized  every  individual  present,) 
prejjared  to  listen  with  deep  attention."  The  service 
conmienced  by  the  singing  of  a  hymn,  with  which,  we 
are  told,  the  military  hearer  was  highly  delighted;  an 
earnest  prayer  was  then  offered  up  in  behalf  of  the  as- 
sembled multitude;  and,  another  hymn  having  been  sung, 
the  preacher  read  his  text  from  his  pocket  Bible,  and  ad- 
dressed the  people  in  an  extemporaneous  discourse  of 
considerable  length,  during  which  "the  admiration  of 
Parsons  was  excited  to  the  highest  pitch  by  the  earn- 
estness of  his  manner  and  his  powerful  voice,  which  so 
wrought  upon  the  military  feelings  of  the  soldier  that  he 
thought  the  word  of  command,  by  such  an  excellent  of- 
ficer, could  distinctly  be  heard  throughout  the  line,  from 
right  to  left."  The  sermon  being  ended  another  hymn 
was  sung,  and  a  short  prayer  concluded  the  meeting. 
John  Parsons's  favorable  opinion  was  won  for  the  Meth- 
odists by  this  sermon.  He  afterward  himself  became  a 
powerful  Local  Preacher,  and,  having  done  much  good  in 
various  parts  of  England  during  forty -five  years,  he  de- 
parted to  the  hosts  above,  in  his  seventieth  year,  shout- 
ing as  he  went,  "  When  I  get  to  glory  I  will  make  heaven 
ring  with  my  voice,  and  wave  my  palm  over  the  heads 
of  the  saints,  crying,  '  Victory !  victory  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb !'  "^^ 

A  high  Methodist  authority,  who  knew  the  captain 
well,  says,  "They  saw  the  warrior  in  his  face,  and 
heard  the  missionary  in  his  voice.  Under  his  holy  elo- 
quence they  trembled,  they  wept,  and  fell  down  under 
his  mighty  word."'^ 

i«  Dredge's  Biog.  Record,  etc.,  p.  197.    London,  1833. 
"  Rev.  J.  Sutcliflfe,  Wes.  Mag.,  1849,  p.  386. 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Tlie  native  talent  of  Webb  was  sustained  by  consider 
able  intelligence.  He  had  seen  much  of  human  life,  and 
had  some  knowledge  of  books.  He  read  the  Scriptures 
ill  the  Greek  language,  and  his  (ireek  Testament  is  still 
a  precious  relic  in  America.'^ 

One  of  Wesley's  veterans,  who  was  intimate  with  the 
captain,  and  who  read  the  funeral  service  over  his  coffin, 
says,  "Great  multitudes  crowded  to  hear  him,  and  a  vast, 
number  in  different  places  owned  him  for  their  spiritual 
father.  His  ministry  was  jdain,  but  remarkably  power- 
ful ;  he  was  truly  a  IJoanerges,  and  often  made  the  stout- 
hearted tremble."" 

Such  was  the  stranger  in  uniform,  whose  sudden  ap- 
pearance startled  the  little  assembly  of  Embury's  hearers. 
He  had  heard  of  them  at  Albany,  where  he  had  lived  a 
short  time  before  as  Harrack-m.ister,  and  where  he  had 
opened  his  house  for  religious  services,  conducted  by 
himself.  He  had  hastened  to  New  York  to  encourage 
the  struggling  society.  Following  the  custom  of  the 
times,  he  always  wore  his  military  dress  in  public.  He 
|»reached  in  it,  with  his  sword  lying  on  the  table  or  desk 
b(rfore  liim.  The  populace  were  attracted  by  the  specta- 
cle, and  soon  crowded  the  preaching  room  beyond  its 
capacity.  A  rigging  loft,  sixty  feet  by  eighteen,  on 
William-street,  was  rented  in  1767.  Here  Webb  and 
Embury  preached  thrice  a  week  to  crowded  assemblies. 
"  It  could  not  contain  half  the  jMJople  who  desired  to  hear 
the  word  of  tlie  Lord." 

Webb  saw  the  necessity  of  a  chapel ;  but  he  was  an- 
ticipated in  the  design  by  Barbara  Heck,  who  was  really 

'»  He  presented  it  to  Rev.  Wm.  Duke,  an  early  Methodist  itinerunt, 
who  afterward  became  a  Protestant  Ejiiscopal  clcr^'yinan,  and  died  in 
Elkton,  Md.,  I.s4»>.  Mr.  Duke  gave  it  to  Kev.  J.  B.  Ilaguuy.  It  la  now 
in  the  library  of  Bi.shop  Scott  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

«»  Atmorc's  Memorial,  p.  446,  App. 


X 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  63 

the  foundress  of  American  Methodism.  This  "  elect 
lady"  had  watched  devoutly  the  whole  progress  of  the 
infant  society  thus  far.  She  was  a  woman  of  deep  piety. 
From  the  time  that,  "  falling  prostrate  "  before  Embury, 
and  "  entreating  him  with  tears  to  i)reach  to  them,"2o 
she  had  recalled  him  to  his  duty  by  the  solemn  admonition, 
"  God  will  require  our  blood  at  your  hand,"  she  seems 
to  have  anticipated,  with  the  spirit  of  a  prophetess,  the 
great  possible  results  of  Methodism  in  the  new  world. 
Seeing  the  growth  of  the  cause  and  the  importance  of  a 
permanent  temple,  "  she  had  made,"  she  said,  "  the  enter- 
prise a  matter  of  prayer ;  and  looking  to  the  Lord  for 
direction,  had  received  with  inexpressible  sweetness  and 
power  the  answer, '  I  the  Lord  will  do  it.'  "  In  the  fervor 
of  her  wishes  and  prayers,  an  economical  plan  for  the 
edifice  was  devised  in  her  mind.  She  considered  it  a 
suggestion  from  God.  It  was  approved  by  the  society, 
and  the  first  structure  of  the  denomination  in  the  west- 
ern hemisphere  was  a  monumental  image  of  the  humble 
thought  of  this  devoted  woman.  Webb  entered  heartily 
into  the  undertaking.  It  would  probably  not  have  been 
attempted  without  his  aid.  He  subscribed  thirty  pounds 
toward  it,  the  largest  sum  by  one  third  given  by  any  one 
person.  He  was  one  of  its  original  trustees,  Embury 
being  first  on  the  list — first  trustee,  first  treasurer,  first 
Class-leader,  and  first  Preacher,  They  leased  the  site  on 
John-street  in  1768,  and  purchased  it  in  1770,  They 
appealed  successfully  to  the  citizens  of  New  York  for 
assistance,  and  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  names  are  still 
preserved  on  the  subscription  paper,  including  all  cla&»es, 
from  the  mayor  down  to  African  female  servants,  known 

'0  Am,  Meth.  Mag,,  1823,  p,  384,  attributed  to  Eev.  Dr.  P.  P.  Sand- 
ford.  His  "  particulars  are  derived  from  an  unquestionable  source,  even 
from  living  witnesses,  who  well  remember  the  circumstances." — P.  427. 


64  HISTORY    OF    THE 

only  by  their  Christian  names,  besides  the  primitive 
Methodists,  Lupton,  Sause,  White,  Heck,  Jarvis,  New- 
ton, Sands,  Staples,  Brinkley,  etc.  The  highest  ranks 
of  the  Xcw  York  social  life  of  the  times  are  honored 
on  this  humble  memorial — the  Livingstons,  Duanes, 
Delanceys,  Laights,  Stuyvesants,  Lispenards,  and  the 
clergy  of  the  day,  Auchrauty,  Ogilvie,  Inglis,  and 
others. 

The  chapel  was  built  of  stone,  faced  with  blue  plaster. 
It  was  sixty  feet  in  length,  forty-two  in  breadth.  Dis 
senters  were  not  yet  allowed  to  erect  "  regular  churches  " 
in  the  city;  the  new  building  was  therefore  provided 
with  "  a  fireplace  and  chimney  "  to  avoid  "  the  difliculty 
of  the  law."  Though  long  unfinished  in  its  interior,  it 
was  "  very  neat  and  clean,  and  the  floor  was  sprinkled 
over  with  sand  as  white  as  snow."*'  Embury,  being  a 
skillful  carpenter,  "  wrought"  diligently  upon  the  struct- 
ure. He  constructed  with  his  own  hands  its  pulpit; 
and  on  the  memorable  .30th  of  October,  1 708,  mouutcd 
the  desk  he  had  made,  and  dedicated  the  humble  temple 
by  a  sermon  on  Hosea  x,  12:  "Sow  to  yourselves  in 
righteousness,  reap  in  mercy ;  break  u]»  your  fallow 
ground,  for  it  is  time  to  seek  the  Lord,  till  he  come  and 
reign  righteousness  upon  you."  The  house  was  soon 
thronged.  Within  two  years  from  its  consecration  we 
have  reports  of  at  least  a  thousand  hearers  crowding 
it  and  the  area  in  its  front.  It  was  named  Wes- 
ley Chapel,  and  was  the  first  in  the  world  that  bore 
that  title.  Seven  months  after  its  dedication  a  letter  to 
Wesley,  concerning  Embury  and  Webb,  said,  "  The  Lord 
carries  on  a  very  great  work  by  these  two  men."  The 
city  at  this  time  contained  about  twenty  thousand  inhab- 
itants, the  colonies  but  about  three  millions.  Methodism 
•»  See  "Wakeley  for  these  and  abundant  similar  particulars. 


SECOND    JOHN-STREET    CHURCH. 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  65 

was  thenceforward  to  grow  alike  with  the  growth  of  the 
city  and  of  the  continent. 

Webb  saw  the  importance  of  this  its  first  material  forti- 
fication in  the  colonies,  and  zealously  endeavored  to  ren- 
der it  secure.  His  personal  generosity  was  infectious. 
He  could  not  admit  the  Christian  character  of  an  avari- 
cious man.  "  Is  his  purse  converted  ?"  was  his  inquiry 
when  hearing  a  report  of  the  conversion  of  a  capitalist. 
Besides  his  liberal  donation,  he  lent  the  trustees  three 
hundred  pounds,  and  gave  them  the  interest  of  the  loan. 
He  begged  for  them  in  Philadelphia  at  least  thirty-two 
pounds.  Like  Wesley  and  his  itinerants,  he  scattei*ed 
religious  books,  and  gave  the  profits  for  the  debt  of  the 
church.  Meanwhile  he  was  practically  an  itinerant 
preacher.  Being  at  last  on  the  retired  list,  with  the  title 
and  pay  of  a  captain  for  his  honorable  services,  he  had 
leisure  for  travel.  The  kindred  of  his  wife  lived  at  Ja- 
maica, L.  I.  He  went  thither,  hired  a  house,  and  preach- 
ed in  it,  and  "twenty-four  persons  received  justifying 
grace."  He  passed  repeatedly  through  New  Jersey, 
forming  societies  at  Pemberton,  Trenton,  Burlington, 
and  other  places.  While  preaching  in  the  market-place 
at  Burlington  iu  1770,  a  young  man  in  the  throng, 
Joseph  Toy,"  was  awakened.  Webb  soon  after  formed 
there  a  class,  and  appointed  him  its  leader.  He  became 
one  of  the  first  teachers  in  the  first  college  of  Methodism, 
and  died  at  last  a  veteran  of  the  Itinerancy. 

Captain  Webb  was  the  founder  of  Methodism  in  Phil- 
adelphia, where  he  first  preached  in  a  sail-loft,  and 
formed  a  class  of  seven  members  in  1767  or  1768.  He 
continued  to  preach  in  that  city  more  or  less  till  Wes- 
ley's itinerants  arrived,  and  was  there  to  welcome  them 
in  person  in  1769.  He  aided  in  the  purchase  of  the  first 
23  Meth.  Mag.  (Am.)  1826,  p.  438. 

A— 5 


n 


66  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Methodist  church  of  Philadelphia,  St.  George's,  in  1770, 
contributing  liberally  for  it.  He  introduced  Methodism 
into  Delaware  in  17G9,"  preaching  in  Newcastle,  Wil- 
mington,  and  in  the  woods  on  the  shores  of  the  Brandy- 
wine.     Still  later  he  Labored  in  Baltimore. 

Having  thus  founded  the  new  cause  on  Long  Island, 
in  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Delaware,  and  pronii- 
nently  helped  to  found  it  in  New  York,  he  appealed 
to  British  Methodism  for  aid,  urging  Wesley  to  send  out 
preachers.  In  1772  he  returned  to  England,  apparently 
to  promote  the  interest  of  the  Wesleyans  for  the  colo- 
nies. We  catch  frequent  glimpses  of  him  in  the  cotem- 
pnrary  records,  as  going  to  and  fro  in  the  land,  preach- 
ing in  Dtjblin,  in  London,  and  other  places.  He  made  a 
spirited  appeal  for  missionaries  at  the  Conference  in 
Leeds,  and  led  baek  with  him,  to  America,  Shadford  and 
Kankiu  ;  Pilmoor  and  Boardmau  having  been  previously 
sent  in  response  to  his  urgent  letters.  Ke-embarkiug 
with  his  two  missionaries  in  177-'%  he  continued  his  trav- 
els and  labors  with  unabated  zeal  till  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Revolution,  when  he  returned  finally  to  Europe. 
To  Embury  unquestionably  belongs  chronological  prece- 
dence, by  a  few  months,  as  the  founder  of  American 
Methodism,  but  to  Webb  belongs  the  honor  of  a  more 
prominent  agency  in  the  great  event ;  of  more  extensive 
and  more  elVective  services ;  of  the  outspread  of  the 
denomination  into  Long  Island,  New  Jersey,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Delaware ;  the  erection  of  its  first  chapels,  and 
the  introduction  of  Wesleyan  itinerants.  Aside  from  the 
mere  question  of  priority,"  he  must  be  considered  the 

**  Lednum,  p.  55. 

**  Webb  arrived  in  New  York  only  about  four  months  after  Embury 
began  to  preach.  Compare  letter  of  "  T.  T."  (Tbomaa  Taylor)  to  Wes- 
ley.   Atmore,  App.,  p.  6»0. 


PRESENT    JOHN-STREET    CHURCH. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  67 

principal  founder  of  the  Americian  Methodist  Church. 
We  shall  still  meet  him,  occasionally,  in  the  course  of  our 
narrative,  and  take  leave  of  him  at  last  in  a  good  old  age, 
when  we  shall  see  him  fall  in  death  as  heroically  as  he 
labored  through  life. 

But  let  us  return  to  Embury  and  his  little  flock  in 
New  York.  He  continued  to  minister  faithfully  in  their 
chapel  twice  or  thrice  a  week.  "  There  were  at  first  no 
stairs  or  breastwork  to  the  galleries ;"  they  were  ascend- 
ed by  a  rude  ladder.^s  »  Even  the  seats  on  the  lower  floor 
had  no  backs."  The  "  singing  was  congregational ;  some 
one  set  the  tune,  the  rest  joined  in,  and  they  made  melo- 
dy to  the  Lord."  There  was  no  vesti*y  nor  class-room ; 
"  the  classes  met  in  private  houses."  A  parsonage,  adja- 
cent to  the  chapel,  was  erected  in  1770 — a  small  house, 
furnished  chiefly  with  articles  given  or  lent  by  the  peo- 
ple. It  was  to  be  the  occasional  home  of  Boardman  and 
Pilmoor,  of  Shadford  and  Rankin,  of  Asbury  and  Coke, 
and  their  fellow  itinerants ;  who,  being  mostly  unmarried 
men,  found  it  sufficiently  convenient.  Embury's  minis- 
terial services  seem  to  have  been  mostly  gratuitous. 
The  early  records  of  the  society  show  only  an  occasional 
donation  to  him  of  clothing,  or  money  for  clothing,  or 
for  work  as  a  carpenter  upon  the  premises.  Before  he 
left  the  city  the  trustees  presented  him  two  pounds  and 
five  shillings  for  the  purchase  of  a  Concordance,  as  a 
memento  of  his  pastoral  connection  with  them.  Wes- 
ley's first  missionaries,  Pilmoor  and  Boardman,  arrived 
in  the  colonies  in  the  autumn  of  1769,  and  not  long  after 
the  faithful  carj^enter  retired  from  the  city  to  Camden,  a 
settlement  in  the  town  of  Salem,  Washington  county.  New 
York.  Thither  he  was  accompanied  by  Peter  Switzer, 
Abraham  Bininger,  a  Moravian,  who  had  crossed  the  At- 
»  Wakeley's  "Lost  Chapters." 


68  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lantic  to  Georgia  with  "Wesley  in  1  T^It,  anfl  others  of  his 
companions.  lie  there  continual  to  labor  as  a  local 
preacher,  and  formed  a  society,  chiefly  of  his  own  coun- 
trymen, at  Ashgrove  —  the  first  Methodist  class  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Troy  Conference,  wliicli  in  our  day 
reports  more  than  25,000  communicants,  and  more  than 
200  traveling  preachers,  lie  was  held  in  high  estima- 
tion by  his  neighbors,  and  ofliciated  among  tliem  luH 
only  as  a  preacher,  but  as  a  magistrate.  While  mowing 
in  his  field  in  1775,**  he  injured  himself  so  severely  as  to 
die  suildenly,  aged  but  forty-five  years,  "  greatly  beloved 
and  much  lamented,"  .says  Asbury.  He  was  buried  on 
the  neighboring  farm  of  his  Palatine  friend  Peter  Switzer, 
After  rej)0sing  fifty-seven  years  in  his  solitary  grave 
without  a  memorial,  his  remains  were  disinterreil  with 
solemn  ceremonies,  and  borne  by  a  large  procession  to 
the  Ashgrove  burial  groimd,  where  their  resting-place  is 
marked  by  a  monument,  recording  that  he  "  was  the  first 
t«t  set  in  motion  a  train  of  measures  which  resulted  in 
the  founding  of  John-street  Church,  the  cradle  of  Ameri- 
can ilethodism,  and  the  introduction  of  a  system  which 
has  beautified  the  earth  with  salvation,  and  increased 
the  joys  of  heaven."  Some  of  his  family  emigrated  to 
Upper  Canada,  and,  with  the  family  of  Jiarbara  Heck, 
were  among  the  founders  of  Methodism  in  that  prov- 
ince. 

Tims  we  end  reluctantly  the  meager  narrative  of  what 
knowledge  remains  respecting  this  humble  but  honored 
man,  whose  name  will  probably  never  be  forgotten  on 
earth  "  till  the  heavens  be  no  more." 

Barbara  Heck  lived  and  died  a  model  of  womanly 
piety — "  a  Christian  of  the  highest  order;  she  lived  much 
in  prayer,  and  had  strong  faith  ;  and  therefore  God  used 
**  The  date  ia  doubtful,  see  p.  53. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  69 

her  for  great  good."^''     Some  of  he;-  descendants  have 
been  conspicuous  in  the  progress  of  Methodism.^^ 

*^  Lednum,  p.  35. 

S8  The  importance  -whieli  Methodism  has  attained  in  America  has 
led,  within  a  few  years,  to  no  little  bibliomania  for  early  Methodist 
documents,  and  to  the  minutest  research  for  local  traditions  and 
relics.  In  these  researches  an  extraordinary  perplexity  has  arisen 
respecting  not  only  the  fate  of  Barbara  Heck  and  her  posterity, 
but  the  very  orthography  of  her  name.  It  has  heretofore  been  sup- 
posed that  her  name  was  Hick,  that  she  died  in  New  York,  and  was 
buried  in  Trinity  churchyard,  and  that  Paul  Hick  (one  of  the  early  trust- 
ees of  John-street  Church)  was  her  son.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  claimed, 
with  singularly  plausible  evidence,  that  "  her  name  was  not '  Hick,'  but 
Heck,"  with  which  the  Irish  authorities  agree,  as  also  the  original  New 
York  signatures  of  Paul  Heck,  (see  Wakeley's  Lost  Chapters;) — that  she 
with  her  husband  and  all  her  sons  (John,  Jacob,  and  Samuel)  removed 
to  Camden,  N.  Y.,  (the  new  home  of  Embury,)  in  1770  or  1771,  and 
thence  to  Canada  as  early  as  1774 ;  that  in  1778  they  were  in  Upper 
Canada,  and  resided  in  Augusta  (where  they  were  a  part  of  the  ^st 
Methodist  class,  under  the  leadership  of  Samuel  Embury,  son  of  PhUip) 
till  their  deaths  ;  Mr.  H.  dying  in  1792,  Mrs.  H.  in  ISO-i;  and  that  they 
lie  side  by  side  in  the  buiying-ground  of  the  "Old  Blue  Church  in 
the  front  of  Augusta ;"  that  "  the  Paul  Hick  of  New  York  was  a  nephew 
of  the  original  Paxil  Heck  (the  husband  of  Barbara)  and  cousin  of  John, 
Jacob,  and  Samuel ;"  that  the  change  of  the  name  was  made  in  his 
family,  etc.  (See  ample  documents  on  the  subject  in  the  Christian 
Guardian,  Canada,  May  25,  1859.)  The  question  is  biographical  rather 
than  historical,  and  I  have  therefore  chosen  not  to  introduce  it  into  the 
text  of  my  narrative.  I  may  be  allowed  to  say,  however,  that  I  am 
inclined  to  the  Canadian  side  of  the  dispute.  The  family  of  Hecks 
have  been  numerous  in  the  province,  and  active  in  its  Methodism. 
They  undoubtedly  sprung  from  the  original  Palatine  stock  in  New  York 
city.  The  orthography  of  the  name  as  used  by  tliem,  as  well  as  their 
whole  explanation  of  the  curious  problem,  are  decidedly  vmdicatcd  by 
authorities  in  Ireland,  where  these  questions  have  been  discussed  with 
no  little  eagerness  in  the  Irish  Evangelist,  the  organ  of  Irish  Methodism. 
There  has  been  no  better  authority  in  Canadian  Methodist  history  than 
the  late  Rev.  William  Case.  He  seems  never  to  have  doubted  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Heck  family,  and  of  the  descendants  of  Embury,  in  Upper 
Canada.  From  a  private  letter  (now  in  my  possession)  addressed  by 
him  in  1855  to  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan  Bangs,  (his  fellow-laborer  in  Canada  at 
the  beginning  of  this  century,)  I  extract  the  following  passage,  as  not 
only  bearing  on  this  question,  but  as  affording  some  interesting  allu- 
sions to  several  names  venerable  in  our  early  history:  "During  the 
winter  just  passing   I   have    enjoyed  the    unspeakable   pleasure    of 


70  HISTORY    OF    THE 

visiting  the  scenes  of  our  early  labors,  yonrs  and  mine.  I  passed 
through  Hallowell,  Belleville,  Kingston,  Elizabethtown,  Broekville, 
Augusta,  Matilda,  and  thence  to  Bytowu,  ^Ottawa  City ;)  thence 
to  Perth  and  Wolford  on  the  Eideau ;  then  home  through  a  portion  of 
the  nortlieni  new  settlements.  In  this  route  I  found  some,  tlionph  few, 
of  our  former  religions  friends  now  living.  Arthur  Youmaus,  Kiifua 
Shoruy,  Mrt;.  M' Lean,  (formerly  Widow  ('oate,)and  William  Brown  are 
yet  living,  at  the  ages  of  from  eighty  to  ninety-one.  Younians  (of  the 
latter  age)  wa«  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  class  formed  in  Hallo- 
well,  January,  17'.'3,  by  Darius  Dunham.  A  cla.-<s  paper  of  the  same 
claaa  was  written  by  Elijah  Wf.lst-y  in  1705.  But  the  parent:*  of  the 
Johnsons,  Congers,  Van  Deusens,  Robins,  Germans,  Huffs,  Emburys, 
Dotlors,  Clarkes,  Parrots,  Maddens,  Keders,  Colemans,  Hecks,  Coons, 
Brouses,  Aulta,  Dulmagcs,  Laurencis,  are  all  gone ;  yet  they  live  in  their 
example  of  piety,  integrity,  hospitality,  and  Christian  benevolence. 
These  virtues  are  prominent  to  a  great  extent  in  their  numerous  de- 
scendants. The  progeny  bears  a  striking  impress  of  their  worthy  patri- 
archal fathers.  You  will  remember  the  names  of  Samuel  and  Jacob 
Heck  of  Augusta,  and  the  Emburys  of  Bay  of  Quinte — the  fonner  the 
sons  of  Paul  Heck  and  his  worthy  companion,  the  parents  of  Metliodisiu 
in  the  city  of  New  York  and  in  ^Vmerica.  The  parents  are  gone,  and 
the  sons  have  followed  them  in  the  way  of  holiness  to  glory ;  but  a 
numerous  tniin  of  grandchildren  are  pursuing  the  Cliristian  course 
'their  fathers  trod' — intelligent,  pious,  and  wealthy.  '■  BU'ned  are  the 
m«tk:  for  Oity  thall  inhtrU  th4  earth.''  A  few  years  since  I  visited 
John  Embury  and  his  wortliy  companion.  He  was  then  ninety-eight 
years  old.  The  scenes  of  early  Methodism  in  New  York  were  vivid  in 
his  recollection,  and  he  referred  to  them  as  readily  as  if  they  had 
recently  occurred.  He  said,  'My  uncle,  Philip  Embury,  was  a  great 
man — a  powerful  preacher — a  very  powerful  preacher.  I  had  heard 
many  ministers  before,  but  nothing  reached  my  heart  till  I  heard  my 
Uncle  Philip  preach.  I  was  then  about  sixteen.  The  Lord  has  since 
been  my  tnist  and  portion.  I  am  now  ninety-eiglit.  Yes,  my  Uncle 
Philip  was  a  great  preacher.'  After  this  interview  he  lived  about  a 
year,  and  died  suddenly,  as  he  rose  from  jirayer  in  his  family,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-nine.  The  Emburys,  Detlors,  Millers,  Maddens,  Switzers, 
of  Bay  of  Quinte,  are  numerous  and  pious,  and  some  of  them  ministers 
of  the  Gospel,  all  firmly  grounded  in  ilcthodLsm.  Their  Palatine 
origin  is  prominent  in  their  health,  integrity,  and  industry." — See  Lift 
artd  Tinus  of  Bang$^  p.  886. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  71 


CHAPTEK  II.  • 

RISE  OF  METHODISM  IN  MARYLAND. 

Robert  Strawbridge  —  Traces  of  Mm  iu  Ireland — His  Character — His 
Emigration  to  America  —  His  Methodistic  Labors  —  Eicbard  Owen, 
tbe  first  native  Methodist  Preacher  —  Watters's  Eulogy  on  Mm  — 
Strawbridge's  latter  Years  —  His  Death  and  Funeral  —  Asbury's  Opin- 
ion of  him  —  Original  Humility  of  ^Vmerican  Methodism. 

The  Bishops  of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Chm-ch,  giving 
a  "  brief  account  of  the  rise  of  Methodism"  iu  their  pref- 
ace to  the  Discipline,  in  1790,  say,  after  alluding  to  the 
labors  of  Embury,  that  "  about  the  same  time  Robert 
Strawbridge,  a  local  Preacher  from  Ireland,  settled  in 
Frederick  county,  in  the  state  of  Maryland,  and  preaching 
there,  formed  some  Societies."  Robert  Strawbridge  was 
born  at  Drumsnagh,  near  the  river  Shannon,  in  the  county 
of  Leitrim,  Ireland.  An  ardent  Hibernian,  his  zeal  for  relig- 
ion provoked  "  such  a  storm  of  persecution  "  among  his 
neighbors  as  induced  him,  not  long  after  his  conver- 
sion, to  escape  their  opposition  by  removing  from  his 
native  place  to  the  county  of  Sligo,  where  "his  labors 
were  signally  blessed  of  God  through  a  considerable  dis- 
trict."' He  labored  also  in  the  county  of  Cavan,  where, 
for  many  years,  aged  Methodists  delighted  to  talk  of  his 
zeal  and  humble  but  heroic  preaching,  and  "  highly  prized 
his  piety  and  gifts."  They  "recognized  him  as  a  man 
of  more  than  ordinary  usefulness.  He  was  very  ardent 
and  evangelical  in  his  spirit."    He  subsequently  preached 

»MS.  letter  of  John  SMllington,  Esq.,  of  Ireland,  in  the  possession  of 
the  author. 


72  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  the  county  of  Armagh,  residing  mostly  at  Tandera- 
gee.  He  "soimded  tlie  alarm"  through  all  that  populous 
rural  district.  Terryhugan,  mentiom-d  by  Wesley  as  the 
"  mother-church  of  these  parts,"  was  "  a  i)lace  to  whirh 
he  often  resorted,  and  among  its  lively  Methodists,  warm 
in  their  religious  affections,  he  found  many  a  heart  that 
heat  in  unison  with  his  own."  Ilis  name  remained  i-m- 
halmcd  in  tin-  memories  of  the  latest  Methodists  of  that 
generation  in  Terryhugan.  One  of  their  devoted  young 
women  became  his  wife,  and  emigrated  with  him  to 
America,  according  to  .some  accoimts,  in  1  7G0,  according 
to  others  in  1704  or  1765.* 

Strawbridge,  being  an  Irishman  by  n:itivity  and  edti- 
eation,  if  not  by  blood,  had  the  characteristic  traits  of 
his  countrymen :  he  was  generous,  energetic,  fiery,  vers- 
atile, somewhat  intractable  to  authority,  and  j)iobal)lv 
improvident.  lii  his  various  migrations  he  ne\  er  bettered 
liis  temporal  fortunes,  but  he  never  lost  the  warmth  or 
buoyancy  of  his  religious  spirit.  He  came  to  America 
to  secure  a  more  comjtetent  livelihood — "  which  object, 
however,  he  never  accomplished"' — and  plunged  at  once, 

»  rbid.  Mr.  Shillin^n,  the  best  Irish  authority  in  the  Methodint 
hi.story  and  antiquities  of  hi»  country,  says,  "not  earlier  than  17H4, 
not  later  than  lT»>."i."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Hamilton  (Meth.  (^iiart.  Rev.,  IH.'.f,, 
p.  43.5)  supposed  he  had  sufficient  proof  of  the  arrival  of  Strawl>rid>fe 
in  America  in  the  year  of  Embury's  emigration,  1 17<wi,)  but  on  examin- 
ing Mr.  ,''hiHin)j;t<>n's  letter  writes  me,  "that,  after  all,  Mr.  .S.  may  l>e 
rijrht,  and,  u*  he  i!<  still  |7oin^  on  with  his  investi!.'ations,  the  differenoe 
will  soon,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  be  finally  settled."  l>r.  Ro)>erts  ariarties  for 
the  earlier  date,  and  also  for  the  claim  of  Strawbridge  to  priority  as 
founder  of  Amerii-an  MethodiKin,  Dr.  Hamilton  agreeing  with  him  in 
the  latter  opinion.  Lednum  (^chap.  1 )  follows  the  authority  of  Hamilton 
and  Roberts.  For  the  other  side  of  the  question  see  Wakeley,  chaps.  17, 
16,  1'.'.  The  impartial  student  of  early  Methodist  hi.story  will  find  it 
expedient  to  waive  the  decision  of  the  question  till  further  researches 
shall  afford  him  more  data.  I  shall  hold  my  text  subject  to  any  revision 
whiih  such  researches  may  hereafter  justify. 

'  llumiltou. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  73 

with  his  yoiing  wife,  into  the  "  backwoods ;"  for  Frederick 
county,  where  he  settled  on  "  Sam's  Creek,"  had  but  re- 
cently been  reclaimed  from  the  perils  of  savage  invasion. 
He  opened  his  house  for  preaching ;  formed  in  it  a  Meth- 
odist Society ;  and,  not  long  after,  built  the  "  Log  Meet- 
ing-house "  on  Sam's  Creek,  about  a  mile  from  his  home.* 
He  buried  beneath  its  pulpit  two  of  bis  children.  It  was 
a  rude  structure,  twenty-two  feet  square,  and,  though 
long  occupied,  was  never  finished,  but  remained  with- 
out windows,  door,  or  floor.  "  The  logs  were  sawed  on 
one  side  for  a  doorway,  and  holes  were  made  on  the 
other  three  sides  for  windows." 

He  became  virtually  an  itinerant,  journeying  to  and 
fro  in  not  only  his  own  large  county,  (then  comprehend- 
ing three  later  counties,)  but  in  Eastern  Maryland,  Dela- 
ware, Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia;  preaching  with  an 
ardor  and  a  fluency  which  surprised  his  hearers,  and  drew 
them  in  multitudes  to  his  rustic  assemblies.  He  seemed 
disposed  literally  to  let  the  morrow,  if  not,  indeed,  the 
day,  take  care  of  itself.  "  During  his  life  he  was  poor, 
and  the  family  were  often  straitened  for  food ;  but  he 
was  a  man  of  strong  faith,  and  would  say  to  them  on 
leaving,  '  Meat  will  be  sent  here  to-day.'  "  His  frequent 
calls  to  preach  in  distant  parts  of  the  country  required 
so  much  of  his  time  that  his  family  were  likely  to  suffer 
in  his  absence,  so  that  it  became  a  question  with  him 
"  who  will  keep  the  wolf  from  my  own  door  while  I  am 
abroad  seeking  after  the  lost  sheep  ?"  His  neighbors, 
appreciating  his  generous  zeal  and  self-sacrifice,  agreed 
to  take  care  of  his  little  farm,  gratuitously,  in  his  absence. 

The  Sam's  Creek  Society,  consisting  at  first  of  but  twelve 
or  fifteen  persons,  was  a  fountain  of  good  influence  to  the 

♦  Not  Pipe  Creek,  as  usually  stated. — William  Fort,  in  Christ.  Advo- 
cate, 1844. 


74  HISTORY    OF    THE 

county  and  the  state.  It  early  gave  four  or  five  Preach- 
ers to  the  Itinerancy.  Strawbridge  founded  Methodism 
in  Baltimore  and  Harford  counties.  The  first  Society 
in  the  former  was  formed  by  him  at  the  house  of  Daniel 
Evans,  near  the  city,  and  the  first  chajiel  of  the  county 
was  erected  by  it.*  The  first  native  Methodist  Preacher 
of  the  continent,  Richard  Owen,  was  one  of  liis  converts 
in  this  county ;  a  man  who  labored  faithfully  and  success- 
fully as  a  Local  Preacher  for  some  years,  and  who  entered 
the  itinerancy  at  last,  and  died  in  it.**  He  was  long 
the  most  effective  co-laborer  of  Strawbridge,  traveling  the 
country  in  all  directions,  founding  Societies  and  opening 
the  way  for  the  coming  itinerants.  The  first  of  the  latter 
raised  up  in  the  colonies  has  recorded  his  simple  but 
warm-hearted  eulogy;  giving  nearly  the  only  information 
we  have  of  the  man  who  must  bear  forever  the  peculiar 
pre-eminence  of  being  the  first  native  standard-bearer  of 
the  Methodist ic  movement  in  the  Western  hemisphere. 
"  On  my  way  home,"  writes  William  Watters,  "  I  saw 
my  old  friend  and  fi-llow-laborer,  Richard  Owen,  in  Lees- 
burg,  dangerously  ill,  and  it  proved  the  last  time  of  my 
seeing  him,  for  in  a  few  days  he  resigned  his  soul  into 
the  hands  of  his  merciful  God.  He  was  the  first  Amer- 
ican Methodist  Preacher,  though  for  many  years  he  acted 
only  as  a  Local  Preacher.  He  was  awakened  under  the 
preaching  of  Robert  Strawbridge.  He  was  a  man  of 
a  respectable  family,  of  good  natural  ])arts,  and  of  con- 
siderable utterance.  Tliough  encumbered  with  a  family, 
he  often  left  wife  and  children,  and  a  comfortable  living, 
iuid  went  into  many  distant  parts,  before  we  had  any 
Traveling  IVeachcrs  among  us,  and  without  fee  or  rewaid 

»  Gatch'B  Memoir,  by  Judge  M'Lean,  p.  24.    Cincinnati,  1854. 
•  Life  of  "Watters,  p.  lOS.    Alexandria,  1806.     Watters  himself  was 
the  first  native  Itinerant,  but  not  the  first  native  Preacher. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  75 

freely  published  that  Gospel  to  others  which  he  had  hap- 
pily found  to  be  the  power  of  God  unto,  his  own  salva- 
tion.    After  we  had  regular  Circuit  Preachers  among  us, 
he,  as  a  Local  Preacher,  was  ever  ready  to  fill  up  a  gap, 
and,  by  his  continuing  to  go  into  neighborhoods  where 
there  was  no  preaching,  he  was  often  the  means  of  open- 
ing the  way  for  enlarging  old  or  forming  new  circuits. 
Several  years  before  his  dissolution,  after  his  children 
were  grown  up  and  able  to  attend  to  his  family  con- 
cerns, he  gave  himself  entirely  to  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try, and  finished  his  course  in  Leesburg,  Fairfax  circuit, 
in  the  midst  of  many  kind  friends,  but  at  some  distance 
from  his  home.     As  his  last  labors  were  in  the  circuit 
where  I  lived,  I  had  frequent  opportunities  of  being 
in  his  company,  both  in  public  and  in  private,  and  had 
every  reason  to  believe  that  he  had  kept  himself  un- 
spotted from  the  world,  and  had  the  salvation  of  souls 
much  at  heart.     I  wisli  it  was  in  my  power  to  hold  him 
up  in  his  real  character,  as  an  example  to  our  present 
race  of  Local  Preachers.      He  was  plain  in  his  dress, 
plain  in  his  manners,  industrious  and  frugal;  he  bore  a 
good  part  of  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  in  the  be- 
ginning of  that  work  which  has  since  so  gloriously  spread 
over  this  happy  continent,  and  was  as  anxious  to  be  a 
general  blessing  to  mankind  as  too  many  now  are  to  get 
richer  and  make  a  show  in  the  world.     I  shall  need  to 
make  no  apology  for  giving  this  short  account  of  so 
worthy  a  man  to  any  who  knew  him," 

Owen's  temperament  was  congenial  with  that  of 
Strawbridge.  He  clung  to  the  hearty  Irishman  with 
tenacious  affection,  emulated  his  missionary  activity,  and 
at  last  followed  him  to  the  grave,  preaching  his  funeral 
Bermon  to  a  "  vast  concourse,"  under  a  large  wahiut  tree. 
"  Richard  Owen,  the  first  Methodist  Preacher  raised  up 


76  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  America,*"  says  our  best  dironiclcr  of  these  dim,  early 
times,  "  was  a  Local  Preacher  in  Baltimore  Circuit. 
Although  his  name  was  printed  in  the  Minutes,  it  is  not 
said  that  he  was  received  into  the  traveling  connection 
until  1785.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  been  preach- 
ing fifteen  or  sixteen  years.  Though  he  had  charge  of  a 
large  family,  he  traveled  and  preached  much  as  a  Local 
Preacher,  in  what  was  then  the  back  settlements,  when 
Methodism  was  in  its  infancy.  He  was  a  man  of  sound 
heart,  plain  address,  good  utterance,  and  solid  ju<lg- 
mcnt ;  and  fur  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  he  gave  him- 
self  up  wholly  to  the  work  of  saving  souls."' 

Several  Preachers  weic  rapidly  raised  up  by  Straw- 
bridge  in  his  travels  in  Uallimore  and  Harford  counties: 
Sater  Stephenson,  Nathan  Perigo,  Richard  Webster,  and 
others;  and  many  laymen,  whose  families  have  been  iden- 
tified with  the  \\  hole  subsequent  progress  of  Methodism 
in  their  respective  localities,*  if  not  in  the  nation  gener- 
ally. We  have  frequent  hitimations  of  Slrawbridge's 
labors  and  success  in  the  early  biographies  of  Metli<Mlisni, 
but  they  are  too  vague  to  admit  of  any  consecutive  nar- 
ration of  his  useful  career.  We  discover  him  now  pene- 
trating into  Pennsylvania,^  and  then  arousing  the  jiopu- 
latioD  of  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland ;  now  bearing 
the  standard  into  Baltimore,  and  then,  with  Owen,  plant- 
ing it  successfully  in  Georgetown,  tni  the  Potomac,  and 
in  other  places  in  Fairfax  county,  Virginia ;  and  by  the 
time  that  the   regular   itinerancy  comes  effectively  into 

'  I.ednum. 

••  Thomas  BoikI,  of  Harford  county,  wa«  one  of  liis  converts.  His 
8on8,  Rev.  John  N^'i?t>ley  Bond  (the  traveling  companion  of  Bishop  As- 
burj')  and  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond,  a»  also  his  grandsons,  liave  been  prom- 
inent in  the  Methotli.>*t  community. 

»  The  venerable  Henry  Ba-hm,  (one  of  Asbary's  traveling  corapan- 
ioDB,)  beard  him  preach  at  his  father's  house  in  Lancaster  county,  about 
17V9. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  77 

operation  in  Maryland,  a  band  of  Preachers,  headed  by- 
such  men  as  Walters,  Gatch,Bowham,Haggerty,Durbin, 
Garrettson,  seem  to  have  been  prepared,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly through  his  instrumentality,  for  the  more  method- 
ical prosecution  of  the  great  cause.  At  last  we  find  his 
own  name  in  the  Minutes  (in  1773  and  1775)  as  an  itin- 
erant. But  it  disappears  unaccountably.  It  is  probable 
that  his  Irish  spirit  could  not  brook  the  stern  authority 
of  Asbury  and  his  British  associates,  especially  the  re- 
quirement which  they  and  their  party  so  stoutly  enforced, 
that  the  administration  of  the  sacraments  by  Methodist 
Preachers  should  be  suspended.  The  Revolution,  as  we 
shall  hereafter  see,  not  only  dissolved  the  English  State 
Church  in  America,  but  drove  out  of  the  country  most 
of  the  Anglican  clergy  ;  the  Methodists  who  had  resorted 
to  their  churches  for  the  sacraments  were  therefore  left 
without  these  means  of  grace.  For  months,  and  even 
years,  many  societies  were  destitute  of  them.  A  consid- 
erable party  of  the  Preachers  undertook  to  supply  them, 
and  a  schism  was  imminent  in  the  denomination.  The 
Conference  of  1773,  unable  to  deter  Strawbridge  from  a 
course  which  seemed  to  him  justified  by  the  clearest  ex- 
pediency, if  not  by  moral  necessity,  allowed  him  to  persist 
if  he  would  do  so  under  the  direction  of  Rankin,  Wesley's 
"  Assistant,"  and  practically  the  "  Superintendent"  of  the 
Church ;  but  Strawbridge  declined  this  restriction.  He 
seems  to  have  become  settled  as  Preacher  to  the  Sam's 
Creek  and  Brush  Forest  Societies ;  the  latter  being  in 
Harford  county,  and  its  chapel  the  second  built  in  Mary- 
land. We  trace  him  at  last  to  the  upper  part  of  Long 
Green,  Baltimore  county,  where  an  opulent  and  generous 
public  citizen,'''  who  admired  his  character  and  sympa- 
thized with  his  poverty,  gave  him  a  farm,  free  of  rent, 
»  Captain  Charles  Eidgely. 


78  HISTORY    OF    THE 

for  life.  It  was  while  residing  here,  "  under  the  shadow 
of  Hampton,"  liis  benefactor's  mansion,  that,  in  "  one 
of  his  visiting  rounds  to  his  spiritual  children,  he  was 
taken  sick  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Wheeler,  and  died 
in  great  peace;"  probahly  in  the  summer  of  1781. 
Owen,  as  has  been  remarked,  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
in  the  open  air,  to  a  great  throng,  "  under  a  tree  at 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  house."     Among  the  con-  ' 

course  were  a  number  of  his  old  Christian  neighbors, 
worshipers  in  the  "  Log  Chapel,"  to  whom  he  had  been 
a  Pastor  in  the  wilderness ;  they  bore  him  to  the  tomb, 
singing  as  they  marched  one  of  those  rapturous  lyrics 
with  which  Charles  Wesley  taught  the  primitive  Meth- 
odists to  triumph  over  the  grave.  He  sleeps  in  an  or- 
chard of  the  friend  at  whose  house  he  died — one  of  his 
own  converts — under  a  tree,  from  the  foot  of  which  can 
be  seen  the  great  city  which  claims  him  as  its  Methodistic 
apostle,  and  which,  ever  since  his  day,  has  been  pre-emi- 
nent among  American  communities  for  its  Methodistic 
strength  and  zeal." 

The  scattered  allusions  to  Strawbridge  in  our  early 
records  are  nearly  all  favorable  to  his  Christian  cliaracter, 
his  apostolic  zeal,  his  tireless  labors,  his  self-sacrifice,  his 
hearty  Irish  fervor.  He  was  of  "  medium  size,  of  dark 
complexion,  black  hair,  had  a  sweet  voice,  and  was  an  j 

excellent  singer."     Garrettson  describes  him  as  a  good  ' 

converser.     "  Mr.  Strawbridge,"  remarks  that  Methodist  I 

veteran,  "came  to  the  house  of  a  gentleman,  near  where 
I  lived,  to  stay  all  night ;  I  had  never  heard  him  preach, 
but  as  I  had  a  great  desire  to  be  in  company  with  a  p»er- 
son  who  had  caused  so  much  talk  in  the  country,  I  wont 

»  Dr.  Hamilton  in  the  Meth.  Quart.  Rev.,  IPSO.  Lcdnnm  also  gives 
nearly  all  our  scanty  knowledge  of  Strawbridge.  "  Rise  of  Meth.  in 
America,"  chap.  1. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  79 

over  and  sat  and  heard  him  converse  till  nearly  midnight, 
and  when  I  retired  it  was  with  these  thoughts :  I  have 
never  spent  a  feAv  hours  more  agreeably  in  my  life.  He 
spent  most  of  the  time  in  explaining  Scripture  and  in 
giving  interesting  anecdotes."''^ 

Asbury's  prejudice  against  Strawbridge,  for  his  Hiber- 
nian independence,  in  the  sacramental  controversy,  con- 
tinued to  the  last.  "  He  is  no  more,"  wrote  the  great 
but  rigorous  bishop,  "  he  is  no  more ;  upon  the  whole 
I  am  inclined  to  think  the  Lord  took  him  away  in  judg- 
ment because  he  was  in  a  way  to  do  hurt  to  his  cause, 
and  that  he  saved  him  in  mercy  because  from  his  death- 
bed conversation  he  appears  to  have  had  hope  in  his 
end.""  Owen,  who  knew  him  better,  and  loved  him  as  a 
son,  had  no  such  equivocal  opinion  of  his  end.  He  pro- 
claimed, as  his  text,  over  the  coffin  of  the  devoted 
though  headstrong  evangelist,  "  I  heard  a  voice  from 
heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead 
which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth :  Yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their 
works  do  follow  them." 

•2  "  Perhaps  one  of  them,"  adds  Garrettson,  "  would  do  to  relate  here  : 
*  A  congregation  came  together  at  a  certain  place,  and  a  gentleman  who 
was  hearing  thought  the  Preacher  had  directed  his  whole  sermon  to 
him,  and  retired  home  after  the  service  in  disgust.  However,  he  con- 
cluded he  would  hear  him  once  more,  and  hid  himself  behind  the  peo- 
ple, so  that  the  Preacher  should  not  see  him.  It  was  the  old  story :  his 
character  was  delineated.  The  Preacher  happened  to  take  his  text  from 
Isaiah, '  And  a  man  shall  be  as  a  hiding-place,'  etc.  In  the  midst  of 
the  sermon  he  cried  out,  'Sinner,  come  from  your  scouting-hole !' 
The  poor  fellow  came  forward,  looked  the  Preacher  in  the  face,  and 
said,  '  You  are  a  wizard,  and  the  devil  is  in,  you :  I  will  hear  you  no 
more  !' " — Bangs's  Life  of  Garrettson,  p.  28.    New  York,  1839. 

>3  Journals,  Sept.  3,  1781.  A  local  reference  in  this  entry  shows  that 
it  relates  to  Strawbridge.  Asbury's  great  military  soul  could  pardon 
almost  any  offense  but  insubordination  to  authority.  Not  only  Straw- 
bridge's  persistence  in  the  administration  of  the  sacraments,  but  his 
continued  charge  of  the  Sam's  Creek  and  Brush  Forest  congregations, 
displeased  the  Bishop. 


80  HISTUKV    OF    THE 

Thus  did  Methodism  begin  simultaneously,  or  nearly 
80,  in  the  north  and  in  the  middle  of  the  opening  conti- 
nent. Its  first  two  chapels  were  hetittingly  humhle ; 
their  very  humbleness  being  not  only  an  adaptation  to 
its  peculiar  mission  among  the  poor,  but  giving,  by  con- 
trast with  the  grandeur  of  its  still  advancing  results,  a 
peculiar  moral  sublimity,  a  divine  attestation  to  the  great 
cause  of  which  they  were  the  first  monuments.  Each 
was  in  its  lowly  sphere  an  evangelical  Pharos,  shedding 
out  a  pure  though  modest  light,  the  rays  of  which  ex- 
tended, blended,  and  brightened,  till  they  streamed,  a 
divine  illumination,  over  the  whole  heavens  of  the  nation, 
and  fell  in  scattered  radiance,  like  the  light  of  the  morn- 
ing, on  many  of  the  ends  of  the  earth.  And,  judging 
from  the  present  j»rospect,  he  may  not  be  an  extravagant 
prophet  who  should  venture  to  predict  that  "  Wesley 
Cha|)el "  of  New  York,  and  the  "  Log  Chapel "  of  Mary- 
hmd,  shall  yet  assume  a  purer  and  a  sublimer  glory  in 
Christian  history  than  the  splendid  structures  of  St. 
Paul,  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Sophia,  For  still  is  it  true,  and 
will  be  to  the  end,  that  "God  hath  chosen  the  weak 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are 
mighty;  and  base  things  of  the  world,  and  things  which 
are  despised,  hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which 
are  not,  to  bring  to  naught  things  that  are :  that  no  flesh 
should  glory  in  his  presence." 


METHOIMST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  81 


CHAPTER  III. 

EAELY    LAY    EVANGELISTS. 

Immigration  —  The  Methodists  of  New  York  apply  to  Wesley  for 
Preachers  — Interest  in  England  for  America —  Eobert  Williams  hast- 
ens to  the  Colonies — Ashtou  of  Ashgrove  —  Williams's  Services  — 
He  founds  Methodism  in  Virginia  —  Jarrett  —  Jesse  Lee  —  William 
Watters,  the  first  Native  Itinerant  —  Williams's  Death— Asbury's 
Eulogy  on  him  —  Other  Testimonials  to  his  Character  and  Usefulness 
—  John  King  —  He  preaches  in  the  Potter's  Field  of  Philadelphia  — 
He  introduces  Methodism  into  Baltimore  —  Preaches  in  the  Streets  — 
Traces  of  his  Life  —  His  Faults  —  Wesley's  characteristic  Letter  to 
him:  Note. 

The  introduction  of  Methodism  into  America,  demanded 
by  the  great  movement  of  transatlantic  immigration,  was 
itself  an  incident  of  that  movement.  The  new  and  urgent 
necessity  thus  evolved  a  moral  provision  for  itself.  Em- 
bury and  the  Palatines,  Strawbridge,  and  scores,  pi'obably 
hundi'eds  of  other  Methodists,  individually  scattered 
through  the  colonies,  had  been  floated,  as  it  were,  by  the 
insetting  current  to  the  shores  of  the  New  World,  and 
soon  became  the  centers  of  religious  societies  among  its 
Atlantic  communities.  Borne  along  by  the  irresistible 
stream,  apparently  submerged  at  times  in  its  tumultuous 
course,  many  of  them  reappeared  in  the  remote  interior 
settlements  and  became  the  germs  of  early  Methodist 
Churches  in  the  desert.  The  Emburys,  the  Ilecks,  and 
some  of  their  associates,  bore  Methodism  not  only  to 
Northern  New  York,  but  at  last  to  Upper  Canada,  years 
before  any  regular  itinerants  penetrated  that  province. 
The  Preachers  and  laymen  of  Maryland  bore  it  across 
the  Alleghanies,  and  scattered  the  precious  seed  over  the 
valleys  of  the  Ohio  and  the  Mississippi. 
A— 6 


82  HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  little  society  in  New  York,  worshiping  in  their 
unfinished  teraple,  without  a  choir,  without  backs  to  their 
seats,  and  climbing  a  rude  ladder  to  their  galleries,  seemed 
instinctively  conscious  of  their  great  coming  history. 
Letters  were  sent  l)y  them  to  Flnghuul  calling  for  mission- 
ary pastors.  Thomas  Taylor,  one  of  their  original 
Church  officers,'  wrote  to  Wesley  in  their  name  as  early 
as  1708,  "  We  want,"  he  said,  "an  able  and  experienced 
Preacher,  one  who  has  both  gifts  and  graces  necessary 
for  the  work.  With  respect  to  money  for  the  payment 
of  the  Preacher's  passage  over,  if  they  cannot  procure  it 
we  will  sell  our  coats  and  shirts  to  procure  it  for  them. 
Great  numbers  of  serious  persons  come  to  hear  God's 
word  as  tor  their  lives;  an<l  their  numbers  iiave  so  in- 
creased that  our  house,"  still  the  Kigging-loft,  "for these 
six  weeks  past  could  not  contain  half  the  people."  They 
were  now  jtlanning  for  the  erection  of  Wesley  Chapel, 
and  spent  "two  several  days  of  fa.sting  and  prayer  for 
the  direction  of  God,  and  his  blessing  on  their  proceed- 
ings." Send  us  a  Preacher,  they  cry  to  Wesley,  "for 
the  good  of  thousands  send  one  at  once,"  "  one  whose 
heart  and  soul  are  in  the  work ;"  and  they  predict  "  that 
such  a  flame  should  be  soon  kin<lled  as  would  never  stop 
until  it  reached  the  great  South  Sea."  Even  Wesley's 
faith  might  have  been  startled  at  the  geographical  reach 
of  the  sanguine  prophecy  ;  but  it  has  long  since  been 
fulfilled.  American  ^^ethodis^n  has  planted  its  standard 
in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  if  it  has  not  borne  it  thence 
to  Polynesia  it  is  because  British  Methodism  had  taken 
possession  of  the  "  great  South  Sea,"  an<l  raised  among 
its  cannibal  j)opulations  the  purest  Churdies  now  to  be 

>  Metb.  Mag.,  (Am.,)  182.3,  p.  427.  The  letter  ia  signed  "T.  T." 
Bee  the  leiisf  of  the  grounds  of  John-atn.'ot  Church  (Wakeley,  chap.  6) 
for  the  identiftcatioD  of  the  name. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  83 

found  on  the  earth,  with  native  chieftains  and  kings  in 
their  ministry. 

These  and  other  appeals  could  not  fail  of  effect  in  En- 
gland. The  rapid  progress  of  Methodism  there  had 
impressed  most  minds,  in  its  own  communion,  with  a 
vague  but  glowing  anticipation  of  general  if  not  universal 
triumphs.  Perronet,  the  venerable  vicar  of  Shoreham, 
the  friend  and  counselor  of  Wesley,  betook  himself  to 
the  study  of  the  prophecies,  assui'ed  that  great  events 
were  at  hand.  "  I  make  no  doubt,"  he  wrote,  "  that 
Methodism  is  designed  to  introduce  the  millennium." 
The  news  of  the  dawn  of  their  cause  in  the  New  World 
spread  among  the  people  before  the  Annual  Conference 
was  called  upon  to  recognize  and  provide  for  it ;  and  be- 
fore the  itinerant  missionaries  could  be  dispatched  across 
the  Atlantic,  humbler  men,  imbued  with  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  new  movement,  were  ready  to  throw  themselves 
upon  the  hazards  of  the  distant  field,  that  they  might 
share  in  its  first  combats.  One  of  these,  Robert  Will- 
iams, applied  to  Wesley  for  authority  to  preach  there ; 
permission  was  given  him  on  condition  that  he  should 
labor  in  subordination  to  the  missionaries  who  were 
about  to  be  sent  out.  Williams's  impatient  zeal  could 
not  wait  for  the  missionaries;  he  appealed  to  his  friend 
Ashton,  who  afterward  became  an  important  member  of 
Embury's  society.  Ashton  was  induced  to  emigrate  by 
the  promise  of  Williams  to  accompany  him.  Williams 
was  poor,  but  hearing  that  his  friend  was  ready  to  em- 
bark he  hastened  to  the  port,  sold  his  horse  to  pay  his 
debts,  and,  carrying  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  set  off 
for  the  ship  with  a  loaf  of  bread,  a  bottlfe  of  milk,  but  no 
money  for  his  passage.'  Ashton  "  paid  the  expense  of 
bis  voyage,  and  they  landed  in  New  York  [1769]  before 
"  Lee,  p.  27. 


84  HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  missionaries  arrived.*"  Ashton  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  the  welfare  of  Embury's  little  charge,  and  removed 
with  him  at  last  to  Ashgrove,  (named  after  himself,)  in 
Camden,  X.  Y.,  where  he  was  the  first  member  and  chief 
pillar  of  the  "Ashgrove  Methodist  Society,"^  his  house 
being  later  the  home  of  the  itinerants.  He  left  a  legacy 
of  three  acres  of  land  for  a  parsonage,  and  an  annuity  to 
the  end  of  time  for  the  oldest  umnarried  member  of  the 
New  York  Conference,  the  j)ayment  of  which  still  re- 
minds the  Preachers  annually  of  his  eccentric  Irish  liber- 
ality. 

Williams  immediately  began  his  mission  in  Embury's 
Chapel,  and  thenceforward,  for  about  six  years,  was  one 
of  the  most  effective  pioneers  of  American  Methodism — 
"  the  first  Methodist  minister  in  America  that  published 
a  book,  the  first  that  married,  the  first  that  located,  and 
the  first  that  died."'  "We  have  but  little  knowledge 
of  his  career,  but  sufficient  to  sliow  that  he  had  the 
fire  and  heroism  of  the  original  itinerancy.  He  was 
stationed  at  John-street  Church  some  time  in  1771.  He 
labored  successfully  with  Strawbridge  in  founding  the 
new  cause  in  Baltimore  county.  In  the  first  published 
Conference  Minutes  he  is  appointed  to  Petersburg,  Va. 
"He  was  the  apostle  of  Jlethodism  in  Virginia."  He 
followed  Strawbridge  in  founding  it  in  1772  on  the 
Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  In  the  same  year  he  appear- 
ed in  Norfolk,  Va.  Taking  his  ^tand  on  the  steps  of  the 
Court-house,  he  collected  a  congregation  by  singing  a 
hymn,  and  then  preached  with  a  plainness  and  energy 
so  novel  among  them  that  they  supposed  he  was  insane. 
No  one  invited  him  home,  in  a  community  noted  for  hos- 

'  Two  months  ai  least.    Lednum,  chap.  8. 

*  "Wakeky'H  "  Heroes  of  Methodiam,"  p.  109.    New  York,  1857. 

»  Wakcley's  Lost  Chapters,  p.  20. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  85 

pitality ;  they  were  afraid  of  his  supposed  lunacy :  but 
on  hearing  him  a  second  time  their  opinion  was  changed. 
He  was  received  to  their  houses,  and  soon  after  a  Society 
was  formed  in  the  city,  the  germ  of  the  denomination  in 
the  state.     In  1773  he  traveled  in  various  parts  of  Vir- 
gmia.     Jarrett,  an  apostolic  churchman,  and  afterward 
a  notable  friend  of  the  Methodists,  encouraged  his  labors, 
and  entertained  him  a  week  at  his  parsonage.     Jarrett 
wrote,  later,  an  account  of  "  the  work  of  God  in  these 
parts  " — Sussex  and  Brunswick  counties— and  says :  "  It 
was  chiefly  carried  on  by  the  Methodists.     The  first  of 
them  who  appeared  there  was  Robert  Williams,  who 
was  a  plam,  artless,  indefatigable  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 
He  was  greatly  blessed  in  detecting  the  hypocrite,  razing 
false  foundations,  and  stirring  believers  up  to  press  after 
a  present  salvation  from  the  remains  of  sin.    He  came  to 
my  house  in  the  month  of  March,  in  the  year  1778.    The 
next  year  others  of  his  brethren  came,  who  gathered 
many  Societies  both  in  this  neighborhood  and  in  other 
places  as  far  as  North  Carolina.     They  now  began  to 
ride  the  circuit,  and  to  take  care  of  the  Societies  already 
formed,  which  were  rendered  a  happy  means  both  of 
deepening  and  spreading  the  work  of  God."^ 

Williams  formed  the  first  circuit  of  Virginia.  A  sig- 
nal example  of  his  usefulness  (incalculable  in  its  results) 
was  the  conversion  of  Jesse  Lee.  He  was  "  the  spir- 
itual father"  of  this  heroic  itinerant,  the  founder  of 
Methodism  in  New  England.  "  Mr.  Lee's  parents  open- 
ed their  doors  for  him  to  preach.  They  were  converted. 
Two  of  their  sons  became  Methodist  ministers,  and  their 
other  children  shared  largely  in  the  blessings  of  the  Gos- 
pel, which  he  proclaimed  with  such  flaming  zeal,  holy 
ardor,  and  great  success.""'  The  religious  mterest  ex 
•  See  Asbury's  JoumalB,  anno  1776.        ''  Wakeley's  Heroes,  p.  174. 


86  HISTORY    OF    TUE 

cited  by  Williams's  labors  soon  exteuiled  into  North 
Carolina,  and  oi)ened  the  way  for  the  southward  advance- 
ment of  Methodism.  He  bore  back  to  Philadelphia,  says 
Asbury,  a  "  flaming  account  of  the  work  ui  Virginia — 
many  of  the  ])eoiilc  were  ripe  for  the  Gospel  and  ready  to 
receive  us."  lie  returned,  taking  with  him  a  young  man 
named  William  Watters,  who  was  thus  ushered  into  the 
ministry,  and  has  ever  since  been  honored  as  the  first 
native  American  itinerant.  Leaving  him  in  the  field  al- 
ready opened,  Williams  went  himself  south-westward, 
"  as  Providence  opened  the  way."  Subsequently  he  bore 
the  cross  into  North  Carolina.  He  fonned  a  six  weeks' 
circuit  from  Petersburg  southward  over  the  Roanoke 
River  some  distance  into  that  state,  and  thus  became  the 
"apostle  of  Methodism"  in  North  Carolina,  as  well  as 
Virginia.  Like  most  of  the  itinerants  of  that  day,  ho 
located  after  his  marriage,  and  settled  between  Norfolk 
and  Suffolk,  where,  and  in  all  the  surrounding  regions, 
he  continued  to  preach  till  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  26th  of  September,  1775,  Asbury  was  now  in  the 
country,  and  at  hand  to  bury  the  zealoiis  pioneer.  He 
preached  his  funt-ral  sermon,  and  records  in  his  Journal 
the  highest  possible  eulogy  on  him.  "  He  has  been  a 
very  useful,  laborious  man.  The  Lord  gave  many  seals 
to  his  ministry.  Perhaps  no  one  in  America  has  been  an 
instrument  of  awakening  so  many  souls  as  God  has 
awakened  by  him."^  "He  was  a  plain,  pointed  jjreacher, 
indefatigable  in  his  labors,"  says  a  historian  of  the 
Church.^  "  That  pious  servant  of  the  Lord,"  says 
Watters,  his  young  fellow-traveler  in  the  South.  "  The 
name  of  Robert  Williams,"  says  our  earliest  annalist,'" 
"  still    lives    in    the    minds    of  many  of   his    s]»iritual 

•  Asbury's  Joamals,  anno  1775.  »  BangB,  anno  1778. 

"  Leo,  p.  48. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  87 

eliildren.  lie  proved  the  goodness  of  his  doctrine  by 
his  tears  in  public  and  by  his  life  in  private.  He 
spared  no  pains  in  order  to  do  good  —  standing  on  a 
stump,  block,  or  log,  he  sung,  prayed,  and  preached  to 
hundreds  "  as  they  passed  along  from  their  public  resorts 
or  chui'ches.  "It  was  common  with  him  after  preach- 
ing to  ask  most  of  the  people  whom  he  spoke  to  some 
question  about  the  welfare  of  their  souls,  and  to  encour- 
age them  to  serve  God."  He  printed  and  circulated 
Wesley's  Sermons,  "  spreading  them  through  the  coun- 
try, to  the  great  advantage  of  religion — they  opened  the 
way  in  many  places  for  our  preachers,  where  these  had 
never  been  before.  Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh  by 
his  faithful  preaching  and  holy  walk." 

Such  are  the  scanty  intimations  that  remain  of  the 
evangelist  who  Avas  the  first  practically  to  respond  to  the 
appeals  from  America  to  England.  His  grave  is  un- 
known, but  he  will  live  in  the  history  of  the  Church  for- 
ever, associated  with  Embury,  Webb,  and  Strawbridge. 
He  did  for  it  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  what  Em- 
bury did  for  it  in  New  York,  Webb  in  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Delaware,  and  Strawbridge  in  Maryland. 

Another  humble  English  Methodist  appeared  on  the 
scene  a  few  months  after  Williams's  arrival,  and  though 
he  was  anticipated  some  few  weeks  by  Wesley's  first 
missionaries,  yet  by  coincidence  of  time,  as  well  as  of 
character  and  career,  his  name  may  be  appropriately 
placed  with  that  of  Williams  before  we  turn  to  the  regu- 
lar itinerants  for  the  more  historic  scope  of  our  narra- 
tive. John  King's  name  will  never  die  in  the  records  of 
the  Church  in  the  Middle  States.  He  came  from  Lon- 
don to  America  in  the  latter  part  of  1769,  whether  at- 
tracted hither  by  the  claims  of  the  new  Church  or  not 
is  now  not   ascertainable.     His  enthusiastic   sympathy 


88  HISTORY    OF    THE 

with  the  pioneer  Methodists  led  hira,  however,  to  throw 
himself  immediately  into  their  ranks,  persisting  even 
acrainst  severe  discouragements.  He  first  appears  in 
Philadelphia,  ins])ired  with  what  he  deemed  an  inward 
call  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  burdened  with  the  apos- 
tolic sense  of  the  "  woe  "  that  would  be  to  him  if  he  did 
not  preach  it.  lie  offered  himself  to  the  Church  for 
license,  but  it  hesitated.  "  However,"  says  its  historian, 
"  this  young  man  determined  to  preach,"  and  made  an 
ajipointment  "in  the  Potter's  Field.""  He  accordingly 
proclaimed  humbly  but  courageously  his  first  message  in 
that  humblest  of  sanctu.aries,  over  the  graves  of  the  poor, 
and  thus  began  a  career  of  eminent  usefulness.  Some  of 
his  Methodist  brethren  heard  him,  and  urged  his  authori- 
zation by  the  Society  as  a  preacher.  He  was  permitted 
to  deliver  a  "  trial  sermon  "  before  them,  was  licensed, 
and  next  appears  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  "among  a  few 
people  who  were  there  earnestly  seeking  the  Lord." 
Thence  we  trace  him  into  Maryland,  where  Strawbridge 
greets  him  with  hearty  welcome,  and  tliey  work  zeal- 
ously together  in  Baltimore  county,  Robert  Williams 
sharing  their  toils  and  suffi-rings.  King  was  a  man  of 
invincible  zeal.  His  manners  were  imbued  with  his 
piety,  and  preached  it.  On  his  first  visit  to  Hai-furd 
county  in  1769,  before  he  began  the  services,  in  a 
large  congregation,  he  stood  some  time  in  silent  prayer, 
covering  his  face  with  his  hands.  The  spectacle  struck 
the  attention  of  a  young  m.an  with  such  effect  that 
he  was  awakened,  and  was  soon  after  converted 
under  the  ministry  of  the  stranger,  and  lived  and  died 
a  devoted  Methodist."     When  in  1770  King  preached 

•»  Lee,  anno  17C9.    The  Old  Potter's  Field  is  now  Washington  Square. 
•»  His  name,  well  kaown  in  that  region,  waa  Henry  Bowman.    Led- 
Dom,  chap.  9. 


J 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  89 

at  the  Forks  of  Gunpowder  in  Baltimore  county, 
James  J.  Baker,  a  liistoric  name  in  the  Church 
of  that  region,  was  "  awakened  under  his  powerful 
word,"  and  three  days  afterward  was  converted.  He 
immediately  became  a  Methodist,  and  his  influence  soon 
led  to  the  organization  of  a  class  in  his  own  dwelling,  of 
which  he  was  leader.  His  house  became  a  home  and 
preaching  place  for  the  evangelists.  A  church  was  built 
in  1773  on  his  estate,  the  third  Methodist  chapel  in 
Maryland.  His  descendants  have  ever  since  been  among 
the  representative  Methodists  of  the  Middle  States. 
One  of  his  sons,  James  Baker,  deputy  surveyor  of  Balti- 
more, was  the  first-fruit  of  King's  ministry  in  that  city ; 
for  "  it  was  the  indomitable  and  enterprising  King  who 
first  threw  the  banners  of  Methodism  to  the  people  of 
Baltimore.'"'  His  first  pulpit  there  was  a  blacksmith's 
block  at  the  intersection  of  Front  and  French  streets. 
His  next  sernion  was  from  a  table  at  the  junction  of  Balti- 
more and  Calvert  streets  ;  his  courage  was  tested  on  this 
occasion,  for  it  was  the  militia  training-day,  and  the 
drunken  crowd  charged  upon  him  so  effectually  as  to 
upset  the  table  and  lay  him  prostrate  on  the  earth.  He 
knew,  however,  that  the  noblest  preachers  of  Method- 
ism had  suffered  like  trials  in  England,  and  he  main- 
tained his  ground  courageously.  The  commander  of  the 
troops,  an  Englishman,  recognized  him  as  a  fellow-coun- 
tryman, and  defending  him,  restored  order,  and  allowed 
him  to  proceed.  Victorious  over  the  mob,  he  made  so 
favorable  an  impression  as  to  be  invited  to  preach  in  the 
English  Church  of  St.  Paul's,  but  improved  that  oppor- 
tunity with  such  fervor  as  to  receive  no  repetition  of  the 
courtesy.  Methodism  had  now,  however,  entered  Bal- 
timore, down  to  our  day  its  chief  citadel  in  the  new 
J3  Lednum,  chap.  9. 


90  HISTORY    OF    THE 

world.  In  five  years  after  King  stood  there  on  the 
blacksmith's  block,  it  was  strong  enough  to  entertain  the 
Annual  Conference  of  the  denomination. 

King  was  afterward  received  into  the  regular  itin- 
erancy. He  was  a  member  of  the  first  Conference  of 
1773,  and  was  appointed  with  Watters  to  New  Jer- 
sey.'* He  soon  after  entered  Virginia,  and  with  two 
other  preachers  traveled  Robert  Willianis's  new  six 
weeks'  circuit,  extending  from  Petersburg  into  North 
Carolina.  "  They  were  blessed  among  tlu'  people,  and  a 
most  remarkable  revival  of  religion  prevailed  in  most 
of  the  circuit,"  says  the  cotemporary  historian  of  the 
Church;  "Christians  were  united  and  devoted  to  God; 
sinners  were  greatly  alarmed ;  the  Preachers  had  large 
congregations;  indeed,  the  Lord  wrought  wonders  among 
us  that  year."''  Still  later  we  trace  him  again  to  New 
Jersey;  he  located  during  the  Kevohition,  but  in  1801 
reappeared  in  the  ituierant  ranks  in  Virginia.  He  located 
finally  in  1 80.3. ""•  One  of  our  historical  authorities  assures 
(IS  that  "  he  was  a  truly  pious,  zealous,  and  u.seful  man, 
and  so  continued  till  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few 
years  since,  at  a  very  advanced  age,  in  the  vicinity  of 
llaleigh,  N.  C.  He  was  probably  the  only  surAivor,  at 
the  time  of  his  decease,  of  all  the  Preachers  of  ante-revo- 
lutionary date."" 

John  King  did  valiant  service  in  our  early  struggles. 
He  seems,  however,  to  have  been  often  led  away  by  his  ex- 
cessive ardor;  he  used  his  stentorian  voice  to  its  utmost 
capacity,  and  it  is  said   that  when  he  preached  in  St. 

>♦  'Watters  did  not  go ;  he  went  to  Virginia.  Gatoh  and  King  went  to 
New  Jersey.    The  latter  stayed  but  a  short  time.    Gatch's  Life,  p.  28. 

«»  Lee,  anno  1774. 

'•  Atkinson's  "Methodism  in  New  Jersey,"  p.  72.  Philadeldhia, 
1860. 

"  Kev.  Dr.  Coggeshall,  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  1355,  p.  501. 


1 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  91 

Paul's,  Baltimore,  he  "  made  the  dust  fly  from  the  old 
velvet  cushion."  Wesley,  who  probably  knew  him  in 
England,  and  corresponded  with  him  in  America,  calls 
him  "  stubborn  and  headstrong.'"" 

Such  were  the  first  lay  evangelists,  the  founders  of 
Methodism  in  America,  Embury,  Webb,  Strawbridge, 
Owen,  Williams,  and  King.  In  the  year  in  which  the 
last  two  arrived,  Wesley  responded  to  the  appeal  of  the 
New  York  society,  and  his  first  two  regular  itinerants 
appeared  in  the  New  World.    Let  us  now  turn  to  them. 

>8  One  of  Wesley's  letters  to  him  is  so  characteristic,  and  conveys, 
withal,  so  good  a  lesaon,  that  I  am  tempted  to  cite  it:  "  My  dear  brother, 
always  take  advice  or  reproof  as  a  favor  ;  it  is  the  surest  mark  of  love. 
I  advised  you  once  and  you  took  it  as  an  affront ;  nevertheless  I  will  do 
it  once  more.  Scream  no  more  at  the  peril  of  your  soul,  God  now 
warns  you  by  me,  whom  he  has  set  over  you.  Speak  as  earnestly  as  you 
can,  but  do  not  scream.  Speak  with  all  your  heart,  but  with  a  moderate 
voice.  It  was  said  of  our  Lord,  '  He  shall  not  cry ;'  the  word  properly 
means.  He  shall  not  scream.  Herein  be  a  follower  of  me,  as  I  am  of 
Christ.  I  often  speak  loud,  often  vehemently ;  but  I  never  scream.  T 
never  strain  myself;  I  dare  not ;  I  know  it  would  be  a  sin  against  God 
and  my  own  soul.  Perhaps  one  reason  why  that  good  man,  Thomas 
Walsh,  yea,  and  John  Manners  too,  were  m  such  grievous  darkness  be- 
fore they  died,  was  because  they  shortened  their  own  lives.  0,  John, 
pray  for  an  advisable  and  teachable  temper.  By  nature  you  are  very 
far  from  it;  you  are  stubborn  and  headstrong.  Your  last  letter  was 
written  in  a  very  wrong  spirit.  If  yoii  cannot  take  advice  from  others, 
Barely  you  might  take  it  from  your  affectionate  brother,"  etc. 


92  HISTORY    or    THE 


CHAPTER  IV. 

WESLEY'S    FIRST    MISSIONARIES   TO    AMERICA. 

Appeals  to  Wesley  for  Missionaries  —  Dr.  Wrangle  — John  Hood  and 
Lambert  Wilmer  of  Philadelphia  —  Wesley's  Appeal  in  his  Confer- 
ence—  The  Response  —  A  liberal  Contribution  for  America  —  The 
Conference  —  Leedj)  in  Methodist  Mi:<8ionary  History — Sketch  of 
Richard  Boardinan  —  His  Perils  by  Water —  Instnuncntal  in  the  Con- 
version of  Jabez  Bunting  —  Joseph  I'ilnioor — A  tempestuous  Voy- 
age—  Arrival  of  the  Missionaries  in  America —  Pilmoor  preaching  in 
the  Streets  of  Philadelphia  —  His  Letter  to  Wesley  —  Boardman  on 
the  Way  to  New  York  —  Wliitefl>ld  greets  them  —  Presentiment  of 
his  Death  —  His  last  Evangelical  Triumphs  —  Last  Sennon  —  Last 
Exhortation  —  Jesse  Leo  at  his  Tomb:  Note  —  Boardman  in  N»w 
York — His  Success  —  John  Mann  —  Pilmoor — His  Letter  to  Wesley 
—  Singular  Introduction  into  New  Rochelle. 

Send  us  "  an  able  and  experienced  Preacher,"  wrote  the 
Now  York  Society  to  "Wesley ;  "  we  inipoitune  your  as- 
sistance ;"  "  send  us  a  man  of  wisdom,  of  sound  faitli,  a 
jj:ood  disciplinarian,  whose  soul  and  heart  are  in  the 
work ;"  and,  as  we  have  seen,  they  call  unto  him  with 
the  glowing  vision  of  "  a  flame  kindled,  which  shall  never 
stop  until  it  reaches  the  great  South  Sea."  Webb 
wrote ;  Embury,  it  is  said,  wrote ;  Thomas  Dell,  a  humble 
mech.anic,  who  had  "wrought  six  days"  upon  their  new 
Chapel,  wrote.  Dr.  Wrangle,  a  good  Swedish  mission- 
ary, afterward  chaplain  to  his  king,  sent  out  by  his  gov- 
ernment to  minister  to  its  emigrants  in  Philadelphia, 
appealed  to  Wesley  in  person  at  a  dinner  table,  on  his 
way  home  through  England.'  The  zealous  and  catholic 
doctor  had  been  preparing  the  way  for  Methodism  in 
Philadelphia.  John  Hood  had  been  converted  under 
>  Wesley's  Journals,  October,  1763. 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  93 

his  ministry  there ;  and  the  missionary  had  recommended 
him  to  the  friendship  of  Lambert  Wilraer,  a  devoted 
yomig  man  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  The  two  youths  be- 
came like  David  and  Jonathan,  and  after  years  of  Chris- 
tian co-operation  they  mutually  requested  that  they 
might  rest  in  the  same  grave.  Their  Swedish  friend, 
obtahiiug  from  Wesley  the  promise  of  a  preacher,  wrote 
back  to  them  the  good  news,  and  advised  them  to  be- 
come Methodists.  They  accordingly  became  founders 
of  the  new  Church  in  Philadelphia,  where  their  names 
are  still  venerated,  and  where  they  now  sleep  in  one 
tomb  under  the  Union  Methodist  Church.' 

In  Wesley's  "Minutes  of  Conference"  for  1769  are 
nine  brief  lines  pregnant  with  volumes  of  history.  On 
the  3d  of  August,  in  the  Conference  at  Leeds,  he  said 
from  the  chair,  "  We  have  a  pressing  call  from  our  breth- 
ren of  New  York  (who  have  built  a  preaching  house)  to 
come  over  and  help  them.  Who  is  willing  to  go? 
Richard  Board  man  and  Joseph  Pilmoor.  What  can  we 
do  further  in  token  of  our  brotherly  love  ?  Let  us  now 
take  a  collection  among  ourselves.  This  was  immedi- 
ately done,  and  out  of  it  £50  were  allotted  toward  the 
payment  of  their  debt,  and  about  £20  given  to  our 
brethren  for  their  passage."  This  was  Wesley's  twenty- 
sixth  Conference;  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  had 
passed  since  the  organization  of  that  humble  ecclesias- 
tical synod,  in  our  day  one  of  the  most  notable  in  the 
Protestant  world.  Its  "Circuits  "  were  but  forty-six,  the 
membership  of  its  Churches  less  than  twenty-nine  thou- 
sand ;  the  preachers  present  at  the  session  were  prob- 
ably but  few ;  and  they  were  nearly  all  poor,  if  not  suf- 
fering from  want.  More  than  two  thirds  of  the  ministry 
remained  unmarried,  unable  to  provide  for  families.  The 
a  Lednum,  chap.  4. 


94  HISTORY    OF    THE 

generous  sum  of  three  huudrcd  and  fifty  dollars,  given  by 
them,  was  an  extraordinary  expression  of  their  zeal  and 
hopefulness  for  the  new  development  of  their  cause  now 
taking  place  beyond  the  Atlantic.  Their  o^^'n  Conference 
debt  was,  at  this  session,  between  twenty-five  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars ;  and  the  contribution  for  America  was 
made  immediately  after  the  question  and  answer,  "  What 
is  reserved  for  contingent  expenses?  Nothing."  The 
gift  of  two  of  their  prominent  men  was,  l)owever,  a  still 
stronger  ])roof  of  their  large  expectations  of  Methodism 
in  the  now  world.  Their  work  at  home  was  urgent ;  it 
had  already  extended  over  England,  into  Scotland, 
Wales,  Ireland.  The  har\est  was  great,  the  laborers 
few  ;  but  they  could  not  disregard  this  lu'w  sign  in  the 
western  heavens  ;  it  was  to  them  the  Macedonian  vision, 
shining  over  the  distant  sea.  They  sent  therefore  both 
men  and  money.  It  was  characteristically  befitting 
such  self-sacrificing  men  to  retire  from  their  Confer- 
ence declaring,  as  they  did  in  a  docimient,  their  reso- 
lution "to  devote  ourselves  entirely  to  God;  denying 
ourselves,  taking  up  our  cross  daily,  steadily  aiming  at 
one  thing,  to  save  our  own  souls  and  them  that  hear  us.'" 
And  it  is  an  interesting,  if  not  a  more  significant  coinci- 
dence, that  in  this  very  town  whence  the  first  Wesleyan 
missionaries  were  sent  to  America,  was  to  be  organized, 
less  than  half  a  century  later,  the  first  Wesleyan  Method- 
ist Missionary  Society,  an  institution  which  has  trans- 
cended, in  success,  every  other  similar  organization  of 
Protestant  Christendom. 

A  voyage  to  America  was,  at  that  time,  a  much  more 

serious  adventure  than   it  is  in  our  day ;  and  for  two 

obscure   Methodist  Preachers  to  tear  themselves  from 

their  brethren,  and  throw  themselves  upon  the  contingen- 

»  Minutes,  vol.  i,  p.  88.    London,  1812. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.  95 

cies  of  the  feeble  beginnings  of  their  cause  in  the  distant 
new  woi'ld  required  no  little  courage,  not  to  say  daring. 
We  cannot  be  surprised  therefore  that  there  was  some 
hesitancy  in  the  Conference.  It  is  usually  supposed  that 
when  Wesley's  appeal  was  made  the  response  was  im- 
mediate ;  but  it  was  otherwise.  The  Conference  sat  in 
silence,  no  man  answering.  The  next  morning,  Wesley, 
as  was  his  custom,  preached  before  the  assembly  at  five 
o'clock  on  the  text,  "I  have  nourished  and  brought  up 
children,  and  they  have  rebelled  against  me."  At  the 
reassembling  of  the  Conference,  after  the  sermon,  the  ap- 
peal was  repeated,  and  the  responses  deliberately  and  res- 
olutely made.* 

Richard  Boardman  was  now  about  thirty-one  years  of 
age,  vigorous  and  zealous.  He  had  preached  in  the  itin- 
erancy about  six  years.  Wesley  pronounced  him  "a 
pious,  good-natured,  sensible  man,  greatly  beloved  of  all 
that  knew  him."  His  Irish  brethren,  when,  thirteen 
years  later,  they  laid  him  in  his  grave,  said  that  "  with 
eloquence  divine  he  preached  the  word,"  and  "  devils 
trembled  when  for  Christ  he  fought."  One  of  the  old 
Methodist  chroniclers  describes  him  as  "  a  man  of  great 
piety,  amiable  disposition,  and  strong  understanding."^ 
Asbury  says  he  was  "  a  kind,  loving,  worthy  man,  truly 
amiable  and  entertaining,  and  of  a  childlike  temper."^ 
His  itinerant  training  in  England,  though  brief,  had  been 
thorough.  He  had  spent  two  y.?ars  at  least  among  the 
fervid  Methodists  of  Yorkshire,  and  went  to  America 
from  the  rugged  and  famous  Circuit  of  the  "  Dales," 
where  hard  travels,  laborious  work,  and  wintry  storms 

*  Speech  of  Eev.  C.  Prest  (of  tlie  Wesleyan  Conference)  at  the  anni- 
versary of  the  Paris  Wesleyan  Chapel,  October  25,  18(i3.  Mr.  Prest'a 
authority  was  the  Eev.  Jonathan Edniondson.  See  "The  Methodist," 
New  York,  Nov.  28,  1863. 

5  Atmore,  p.  58.  «  Strickland's  Asbury,  p.  S6. 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE 

were  a  good  preparation  for  liis  transatlantic  trials.  He 
had  perils  by  flood  as  well  as  by  land,  and  some  of  those 
hair-breadth  escapes  which,  associated  with  marvels  of 
dreams,  demons,  prayer,  and  providence,  give  snch  a  He- 
braic character  to  the  early  ministerial  life  of  Methodism. 
"  I  preached  one  evening,"  he  says,  "  at  Mould,  in  Flint- 
shire, and  next  morning  set  out  for  Parkgate.  After 
riding  some  miles,  I  asked  a  man  if  I  was  on  the  road  to 
that  place.  He  answered,  '  Yes ;  but  you  will  have  some 
sands  to  go  over,  and  unless  you  ride  fast  you  will  be  in 
danger  of  being  inclosed  l)y  the  tide.'  It  then  began  to 
snow  to  such  a  degree  that  I  could  scarcely  see  a  step  of 
my  way.  I  got  to  the  sands,  and  pursno<l  my  joimiey 
over  them  for  some  time  as  rapiilly  as  I  could  ;  but  the 
tide  then  came  in  and  surroiuided  me  on  every  side,  so 
that  I  could  neither  proceed  nor  turn  back,  and  to  ascend 
the  perpendicular  rofks  was  impossi1)le.  In  this  situation 
I  commended  my  soul  to  God,  not  having  the  least  ex- 
pectation of  escaping  death.  In  a  little  time  I  perceived 
two  men  running  down  a  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the 
water,  and  by  some  means  they  got  a  boat,  an<l  came  to 
my  relief,  just  as  the  sea  had  reached  my  knees  as  I  sat 
on  my  saddle.  They  took  me  into  the  boat,  the  mare 
swimming  by  our  side  till  we  reached  the  land.  While 
we  were  in  the  boat,  one  of  the  men  said,  *  Surely,  sir, 
God  is  with  you.'  I  answered,  '  I  trust  he  is.'  Tljc  man 
replied,  'I  know  he  is;  last  night  I  dreamed  that  I  must 
go  to  the  top  of  such  a  hill.  When  I  awoke  the  dream 
made  such  an  impression  on  my  mind  that  I  could  not  rest. 
I  therefore  went  and  called  upon  this  man  to  accompany 
me.  When  we  came  to  the  place  we  saw  nothing  more 
than  usual.  However,  I  begged  him  to  go  with  me  to 
another  hill  at  a  small  distance,  and  there  we  saw  your 
distressed  situation.'     When  we  got  ashore  I  went  with 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  97 

my  two  friends  to  a  public  house  not  far  distant  from 
where  we  landed ;  and  as  we  were  relating  the  wonderful 
providence,  the  landlady  said,  '  This  day  month  we  saw 
a  gentleman  just  in  your  situation ;  but  before  we  could 
hasten  to  his  relief  he  plunged  into  the  sea,  supposing,  as 
we  concluded,  that  his  horse  would  swim  to  the  shore ; 
but  they  both  sank,  and  were  drowned  together.'  I  gave 
my  deliverers  all  the  money  I  had,  which  I  think  was 
about  eighteen  pence,  and  tarried  all  night  at  the  hotel. 
Next  morning  I  was  not  a  little  embarrassed  how  to  pay 
my  reckoning,  for  the  want  of  cash,  and  begged  my  land- 
lord would  keep  a  pair  of  silver  spurs  till  I  should  redeem 
them;  but  he  answered,  'The  Lord  bless  you,  sir;  I 
would  not  take  a  farthing  from  you  for  the  world.' 
After  some  serious  conversation  with  the  friendly  people 
I  bade  them  farewell,  and  recommenced  my  journey,  re- 
joicing in  the  Lord,  and  praising  him  for  his  great  salva- 
tion."7 

He  set  out  for  America  mourning  the  recent  loss  of 
his  wife,  but  courageous  for  his  new  career.  He 
preached  as  he  journeyed  toward  Bristol  to  embark.  In 
the  Peak  of  Derbyshire  he  stopped  for  the  night  at  the 
village  of  Monyash,  where,  inquiring  for  Methodists,  he 
was  sent  to  a  humble  cottage,  and  found  a  hospitable 
welcome.  As  usual,  he  preached  in  the  evening,  and 
was  there  to  achieve  greater  usefulness  perhaps  than 
by  all  his  labors  in  founding  Methodism  in  the  new 
world.  In  the  rustic  assembly  sat  a  young  woman, 
Mary  Redfern,  listening  eagerly  for  words  of  consolation 
fi'om  the  traveler.  She  was  poor,  but  rich  in  the  traits 
of  her  intellect  and  character.  Under  the  sermon  of 
Boardman  the  divine  light  broke  upon  her  inquiring 
mind,  and  soon  afterward  she  received  the  "peace 
7  Atmore,  p.  60. 

A-7 


98  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  God  which  passeth  all  undorstandinfj."  Board- 
man's  text  was,  "  Jabez  was  more  lionorahle  than  his 
brethren :  and  his  mother  called  his  name  Jabez,  lay- 
infj.  Because  I  bare  him  with  sorrow.  And  Jabez  called 
on  the  God  of  Israel,  saying,  O  that  thou  wouldest  Idess 
me  indeed,  and  enlarge  my  coast,  and  that  thine  liaml 
Tuiglit  be  with  me,  and  that  thou  \voulde>t  koop  mo  from 
evil,  that  it  may  not  grieve  me.  And  God  granted  him 
tliat  whicli  he  requested."  1  Chron.  iv,  0,  10.  Tlie 
occasion  was  too  memorable  to  the  young  hearer  ever  to 
be  forgotten,  and  the  text  was  enibalined  in  her  heart. 
Nearly  ten  years  after  Boardman's  sermon  she  married 
William  Bunting,  a  Methodist  layman  ;  and  the  next 
year  selected  from  the  text  of  Boardman  a  name  for  her 
firstborn  child,  Jabez  Bunting,  a  memento  of  her  grati- 
tude and  a  prophecy  of  his  history.^  The  name  of  Jabez 
Bimting,  the  chief  leader  of  British  Methodism  since 
Wesley,  will  therefore  be  forever  associated  with  the 
first  mission  from  the  British  Conference  to  America. 

Boardman,  continuing  to  preach  on  his  roiite,  at  last 
joined  Pilmoor  at  Bristol,  to  embark  in  the  latter  |»ar1  of 
August. 

Pilmoor  liad  been  converted  in  his  sixteenth  year 
through  the  pn>aching  of  Wesley,  ha<l  been  educated  at 
Wesley's  Kingswood  School,  .and  ha<l  now  itinerated 
about  four  years,  being  admitted  to  the  Conference  in 
1765.  He  traveled  in  Cornwall  and  Wales.  He  was  a 
man  of  good  courage,  commanding  |>resence,  much  exec- 
utive skill,  and  ready  discourse.  The  two  evangelists 
arrived  at  Gloiwester  Point,  six  miles  south  of  Philadel- 
phia, on  the  24th  of  October,  1 76'.),  after  a  boisterous 
passage  of  nine  weeks.     It  seemed  that  the  winds  and 

•  Bnnting'B  Life  of  Banting,  chap.  1.  Hist,  of  the  Relig.  Movement, 
etc..  iii,  ^|^\. 


METUODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.  9^ 

waves  were  swayed  by  the  "  prince  of  the  power  of  the 
air  "  in  opposition  to  a  mission  so  pregnant  with  moral 
consequences.  The  "  memory  of  the  oldest  man  on  the 
continent  could  not  recall  such  bad  gales  of  winds  as 
those  of  a  few  months  past,"  wrote  Boardman  to  Wes- 
ley. "  Many  vessels  have  been  lost,  while  others  have 
got  in  with  loss  of  masts  and  much  damage  of  cargoes. 
We  observed  shipwrecks  all  along  the  coast  of  the  Dela- 
ware. I  never  understood  David's  words  as  I  now  do, 
'  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  that  do  business 
in  great  waters,  these  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
wonders  in  the  deep.' "  But  the  missionaries  were  sus- 
tained by  a  sublime  consciousness  of  their  great  errand, 
and  believed  that  if  they  should  perish  in  it.  He  that 
could  raise  up  others  to  accomplish  it  would  take  care 
of  them  in  death.  "  In  rough,  stormy  weather,  particu- 
larly when  it  appeared  impossible  the  vessel  should  live 
long  amid  the  conflicting  elements,  I  found  myself,"  says 
Boardman,  "  exceedingly  happy,  and  rested  satisfied  that 
death  would  be  gain.  I  do  not  remember  to  have  had 
one  doubt  of  being  eternally  saved  should  the  mighty 
waters  swallow  us  up.  This  was  the  Lord's  doing.  O 
may  it  ever  be  marvelous  in  my  eyes !" 

The  Methodists  of  the  city  were  expecting  them,  Dr. 
Wrangle,  the  Swedish  missionary,  having  written  to 
Hood  and  Wilmer  of  their  appointment.  Captain  Webb 
was  thei-e  to  receive  them.  They  immediately  began  their 
mission,  Pilmoor  opening  it  from  the  steps  of  the  old 
State-house  on  Chestnut-street.  Soon  afterward  he  was 
preaching  from  the  platform  of  the  judges  of  the  race- 
course on  the  Common,  now  Franklin  Square,  Race-street. 
In  seven  days  after  reaching  the  city  he  wrote  to  Wes- 
ley that  he  "  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find  Captain 
Webb  in  town,  and  a  society  of  about  one  hundred  mem- 


100  HISTORY    OF    THK 

bers.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in 
our  eyes.  I  have  preached  several  times,  and  the  people 
flock  to  hear  in  multitudes,  Sunday  night  I  went  out 
upon  the  Common.  I  had  the  stage,  appointed  for  the 
horse-race,  for  my  pulpit,  and  I  think  between  four  and 
five  thousand  hearers,  who  heard  with  attention  still  as 
night.  Blessed  be  God  for  field-preaching !  There  seems 
to  be  a  great  and  effectual  door  opening  in  this  country, 
and  I  hope  many  souls  will  be  gathered  in.  "When  I 
parted  with  you  at  Leeds  I  found  it  very  hard.  I  have 
reason  to  bless  God  that  ever  I  saw  your  face.  And 
though  I  am  well-nigh  four  thousand  miles  from  you,  I 
have  inward  fellowship  with  your  spirit.  Even  M'hile  I 
am  writing,  my  he.art  flows  with  love  to  you  and  all  our 
dear  friends  at  home." 

Boardman,  who  acted  as  "Wesley's  "  assistant "  or 
"superintendent"  in  America,  preached  in  the  city  "to 
a  great  number  of  people,"  and  quickly  depailed  for  the 
North.  Methodist  preachers  in  those  days  "  sowed 
beside  all  waters."  In  a  large  town  on  his  route 
through  New  Jersey  (Trenton  most  probably)  he  saw  a 
barrack,  and  inquired  of  a  soldier  if  any  Methodists  were 
there.  "  Yes,  we  are  all  Methodists ;  that  ia,  would  be 
glad  to  hear  a  Methodist  preach,"  was  the  prompt 
reply,  for  Captain  Webb  had  been  there,  and  mili- 
tary men  were  always  proud  of  both  his  regimentals 
and  his  eloquence.  The  trooper  hastened  to  the  bar- 
racks, spread  the  word  among  his  comrades,  and  soon  the 
inn  where  the  evangelist  had  stopped  was  surrounded. 
"  Where  can  I  preach  ?"  he  asked  them.  "  We  will  get 
you  the  Presbyterian  church,"  they  replied.  The  bell 
was  quickly  ringing,  informing  the  whole  town  of  the 
impromptu  service.  A  "  great  company  "  assembled,  and 
"  were  much  affected  "  by  the  sudden  appeal.    The  next 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       101 

day  Boardman  had  vanished  from  among  them,  and  was 
hastening  to  New  York,^  where  he  met  a  hearty  recep- 
tion and  began  his  mission  in  John-street  Church. 

It  is  an  interesting  coincidence  that  while  Boardman 
and  Pilmoor  were  tossed  on  their  tempestuous  voyage, 
Whitefield  was  borne  through  the  same  storms  on  his  final 
visit  to  America,^''  his  thirteenth  passage  over  the  Atlantic. 
He  did  not  arrive  till  the  last  day  of  November,  and 
had  come  to  die  in  the  great  American  field  which  he 
had  so  laboriously  prepared  for  Wesley's  missionaries. 
He  had  taken  final  leave  of  Wesley,  in  a  letter,  as  he  em- 
barked. Arriving  at  his  Orphan  House  in  Georgia,  his 
seraphic  soul  seemed  to  receive  a  presentiment  of  his 
approaching  end,  and  to  anticipate  the  joys  of  heaven. 
"  I  am  happier,"  he  wrote,  "  than  words  can  express — 
my  happiness  is  inconceivable."  He  started  to  preach 
northward,  and  on  the  evening  of  his  departure  recorded 
the  prophetic  words,  "This  will  prove  a  sacred  year  for 
me  at  the  day  of  judgment.  Halleluiah  !  Come,  Lord, 
come  !"  "  Halleluiah  !  halleluiah !"  he  wrote  to  Eng- 
land ;  "  let  chapel,  tabernacle,  heaven,  and  earth  resoimd 
with  halleluiah  !  I  can  no  more ;  my  heart  is  too  big 
to  speak  or  add  more !"  To  Charles  Wesley  he  wrote, 
"  I  can  only  sit  down  and  cry, '  What  hath  God  wrought !' 
My  bodily  health  is  much  improved,  and  my  soul  is  on 
the  wing  for  another  Gospel  range.  Unutterable  love ! 
I  am  lost  in  wonder  and  amazement."" 

Ai-riving  in  Philadelphia,  he  hailed  Wesley's  itinerants 
and  "  gave  them  his  blessing :  it  has  never  failed  them." 
His  soul  had  always,  since  his  conversion,  glowed  with  a 
divine  fire,  but  it  now  seemed  to  kindle  into  flame.     No 

»  Armin.  Mag.,  May,  1784,  p.  163. 

'"  Jay's  Life  of  Cornelius  Winter,  Part  I,  Letter  8. 

»i  Hist,  of  the  Eelig.  Movement,  etc.    Vol.  i,  p.  464 


102  HISTORY    OF    THE 

edifices  could  contain  his  congregations ;  he  preached 
every  day.  He  made  a  tour  of  five  hundred  miles  up 
the  Hudson,  proclaiming  his  message  at  Albany,  Sche- 
nectady, Great  Barrington.  "  O  what  new  scenes  of 
usefulness  are  opening  in  various  parts  of  this  world  I" 
he  wrote  as  he  returned.  *'  I  heard  afterward  that  the 
word  ran  and  was  glorified.  Grace  !  grace !"  He  had 
penetrated  nearly  to  the  north-western  frontiers.  "  He 
saw  the  gates  of  the  North-west  opening,  those  great 
gates  through  which  the  nations  have  since  been  passing, 
as  in  grand  procession,  but  he  was  not  to  enter  there; 
the  everlasting  gates  were  opening  for  him,  and  he  was 
hastening  toward  them."  lie  pas.sed  to  Boston,  to 
Newburyport,  to  Portsmouth,  still  preaching  daily. 
Seized  with  illness,  he  turned  back  ;  at  Exeter  he 
mounted  a  hogshead  and  preached  his  final  sermon  to  an 
immense  assembly.  "  Ilis  emotions  carried  him  away, 
and  he  prolonged  his  discourse  through  two  hours.  It 
was  an  effort  of  stupendous  eloquence — his  last  field 
triumj)h — the  last  of  that  series  of  mighty  sermons  which 
had  been  resounding  like  trumpet  blasts  for  thirty  years 
over  England  and  America."  Tie  hastened,  exhausted, 
to  Newbiiryport ;  the  people  gathered  about  his  lodg- 
ing in  throngs  to  see  and  hear  him  onc«  more ;  they 
pressed  into  the  entry  of  the  house.  Taking  a  candle, 
he  attempted  to  ascend  to  his  chamber,  but  pausing  on 
the  stairs,  he  addressed  them.  "  He  had  preached  his 
last  sermon ;  this  was  to  be  his  last  exhortation.  It 
would  seem  that  some  pensive  misgiving,  some  vague 
presentiment,  touched  his  soul  with  the  apprehension 
that  the  moments  were  too  precious  to  be  lost  in 
rest.  He  lingered  on  the  stairway,  while  the  crowd 
gazed  up  at  him  with  tearful  eyes,  as  Elisha  at  the 
ascending  prophet.     Hi«  voice,  never  perhaps  surpassed 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       103 

in  its  music  and  pathos,  flowed  on  until  the  candle  which 
he  held  in  his  hand  burned  away  and  went  out  in  its 
socket.  The  next  morning  he  was  not,  for  God  had 
taken  him." 

He  died  of  asthma  on  the  30th  of  September,  1770, 
and  sleeps  beneath  the  pulpit  of  the  Federal-street 
Church,  Newburyport."  He  had  introduced,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  general  Methodistic  movement  into  America, 
and  had  finished  his  providential  work.  The  great  cause 
was  now  to  assume  an  organic  form. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  1769,  Boardman  wrote  to 
Wesley :"  "  Our  house  contains  about  seventeen  hundred 
people.'*  About  a  third  part  of  those  who  attend  get  in  , 
the  rest  are  glad  to  hear  without.  There  appears  such  a 
willingness  in  the  Americans  to  hear  the  word  as  I  never 
saw  before.  They  have  no  preaching  in  some  parts  of  the 
back  settlements.  I  doubt  not  but  an  effectual  door  will 
be  opened  among  them.  O !  may  the  Most  High  now 
give  his  Son  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance.  The  number 
of  blacks  that  attend  the  preaching  affects  me  much." 

Williams,  who  had  been  supplying  Wesley  Chapel, 
gave  up  the  charge  to  Boardman  and  went  southward, 
joining  Strawbridge  and  King,  and  extending  his  la- 
bors into  Virginia,  as  we  have  seen.  Embury,  relieved 
of  further  responsibility  for  the  Society,  formed  with 
Ashton,  Bininger,  Switzer,  the  Hecks,  and  others,  his 
little  colony  for  Camden — the  founders  of  the  Ashgrove 

i»  Jesse  Lee,  the  founder  of  Methodism  in  New  England,  says :  "  I 
myself  went  into  the  vault  to  see  the  body  after  it  had  lain  there  twenty 
years,  and  was  much  surprised  to  find  the  greater  part  of  it  firm  and 
hard;  a  small  part  of  it  only  had  putrified." — Hist,  of  Meth.,  p.  38. 
Nothing  but  the  skeleton  now  remains. 

>s  Not  the  24th  of  April,  1770,  as  Bangs  says,  i,  63.  (See  Arm.  Mag., 
1784,  p.  163.) 

"  Doubtless  a  typographical  error  for  seven  hundred. 


104  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Church.  Boardman's  labors  were  immediately  effective. 
He  preached,  at  least,  four  sermons  weekly,  and  "met 
the  Society  on  Wednesday  night."  He  had  but  two  leis- 
ure evenincTS  a  week.  The  Church,  still  poor,  provided 
him  with  board  and  about  fifteen  dollars  a  quarter  for 
clothing.'*  Among  the  first-fruits  of  his  labors  was  the 
conversion  of  John  Mann,  who  became  a  iiseful  preacher 
and  supplied  the  pulpit  at  John-street  during  the  Kevo- 
hitionary  War,  when  the  English  j)reachers  liad  either 
returned  home,  or  gone  into  retirement.  He  also  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  Methodism  in  Nova  Scotia,  and 
died  there,  in  the  peace  of  the  Gospel,  after  nearly  half  a 
century  of  faithful  service.'*' 

After  spending  about  five  months  in  New  York,  Board- 
man  exchanged  Avith  Pilmoor.  They  seem  to  have  al- 
ternated between  the  two  cities  three  times  a  year,  in  the 
spring,  summer,  and  autumn  ;  the  winter  term  being  five 
months.  We  can  dimly  trace  Boardman's  labors  in  New 
York,  through  considerable  intervals,  for  four  years : 
from  1769  to  1773;  during  which  "his  mini.stry  was 
blessed  to  hundreds.""  In  April,  1 77 1 ,  he  wrote  to  Wes- 
ley from  that  city:  "It  pleases  God  to  carry  on  his  work 
among  us.  Within  this  month  we  have  had  a  great 
awakening  here.  Many  begin  to  believe  the  report;  and 
to  some  the  arm  of  the  Lord  is  revealed.  Tliis  last 
month  we  have  had  near  thirty  added  to  the  Society,  five 
of  whom  have  received  a  clear  sense  of  the  pardoning 
love  of  God.  We  have,  in  this  city,  some  of  the  best 
preachers  (both  in  the  English  and  Dutch  churches)  that 
are  in  America ;  yet  God  works  by  whom  he  will  work. 
I  have  lately  been  much  comforted  by  the  death  of  some 
poor  negroes,  who  have  gone  olf  the  stage  of  time  rejoic- 

«»  Wakoley,  chap.  21.  '•  Ann.  Mag.,  1818,  p.  641. 

"Ibid.     1785,  p.  113. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        105 

mg  in  the  God  of  tlieir  salvation.  I  asked  one  on  the 
point  of  death, '  Are  you  afraid  to  die  ?'  '  O  no,'  said  she ; 
'I  have  my  blessed  Saviour  in  my  heart;  I  should  be 
glad  to  die :  I  want  to  be  gone,  that  I  may  be  with  him 
forever.  I  know  that  he  loves  me,  and  I  feel  I  love  him 
with  all  my  heai't.'  She  continued  to  declare  the  great 
things  God  had  done  for  her  soul,  to  the  astonishment 
of  many,  till  the  Lord  took  her  to  himself.  Several  more 
seem  just  ready  to  be  gone ;  longing  for  the  happy  time 
when  mortality  shall  be  swallowed  up  of  life.  I  bless 
God  I  find,  in  general,  my  soul  haj)py,  though  much 
tried  and  tempted." 

He  was  equally  successful  in  Philadelphia.  He  made 
missionary  excm-sions  into  Maryland,  and  preached  in 
Baltimore.  We  have  intimations  that  in  the  spring  of 
1772  he  journeyed  to  the  north-east,  through  Provi- 
dence, as  far  as  Boston,^^  preaching  wherever  he  found 
opportunity,  and  forming  a  small  Society  in  the  latter 
city.^^  He  therefore  preceded  Lee  in  New  England  by 
seventeen  years. 

Pilmoor,  meanwhile,  was  abundant  in  labors  in  Phil- 
adelphia and  New  York.  In  the  autumn  of  1769  he 
wrote  to  Wesley  from  the  former  city  that  "  there  seems 
to  be  a  great  and  effectual  door  opening  in  the  country." 
In  the  spring  of  the  next  year  he  wrote,  from  New  York, 
to  Wesley  and  his  Conference,  claiming  their  sympathies 
and  prayers  for  the  laborers  in  "  this  remote  corner  of 
the  world."  "  We  are  at  present,"  he  says,  "  far  from 
you,  and  whether  we  shall  ever  be  permitted  to  see 
you  again,  God  only  knows.  Dear  brethren,  I  feel 
you  present  while  I  write !  But  O,  the  Atlantic  is  be- 
tween us !  O  this  state  of  trial,  this  state  of  mutabiUty  ! 
This  is  not  our  home !  This  is  not  our  rest !  After  a 
"  Lee,  p.  40.  "  Bangs,  anno  1772. 


106  HISTORY    or    THE 

little  while  we  shall  rest.  Our  coming  to  America  has 
not  been  in  vain.  The  Lord  has  been  j)leaseil  to  bless 
our  feeble  attempts  to  advance  his  kingdom  in  the  world. 
Many  have  believed  the  report,  and  unto  some  the  arm 
of  the  Lord  has  been  revealed.  There  begins  to  be  a 
shaking  among  the  dry  bones,  and  they  come  together 
that  God  may  breathe  upon  them.  Our  congregations 
are  large,  and  we  have  the  j»i()us  of  most  congregations 
to  bear  us.  The  religion  of  Jesus  is  a  favorite  topic  in 
New  York.  Many  of  the  gay  and  polite  speak  much 
about  grace  and  perseverance.  But  whether  they  would 
follow  Christ  '  in  sheejvskins  and  goat-skins,'  is  a  ques- 
tion I  cannot  affirm.  Nevertheless,  there  arc  some  who 
arc  alive  to  God.  Even  some  of  the  j>oor,  desjdsed  chil- 
dren of  Ham  are  striving  to  wash  their  robes,  and  make 
them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  The  Society  here 
consists  of  about  a  hundred  members,  besides  probation- 
ers; and  I  trust  it  will  soon  increase  much  more  abund- 
antly." He  adds,  that  Boardman  and  himself"  are  chiefly 
confined  to  the  cities,  and  therefore  cannot,  at  j»resent, 
go  much  into  the  country,  as  we  have  more  work  upon 
our  hands  than  we  are  able  to  perform.  There  is  work 
enough  for  two  preachers  in  each  place ;  and  if  two  of 
our  brethren  would  come  over,  I  believe  it  would  be  at- 
tended with  a  great  blessing.  They  need  not  be  afraid 
of  wanting  the  comforts  of  life ;  for  the  people  are  very 
hosjiitable  and  kind.  When  we  came  we  put  our- 
.selves  and  the  brethren  to  a  great  expense,  being  stran- 
gers to  the  countrj'  and  the  people.  But  the  case  is  dif- 
ferent now,  as  matters  are  settled,  and  everything  is  pro- 
vided. If  you  can  send  them  over  we  shall  gladly  pro- 
vide for  them."2o 

Wesley  was  preparing  to  respond  to  this  call  for  more 
«»  Arm.  Mag.,  17S4,  p.  223. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        107 

laborers ;  they  soon  arrived,  as  we  shall  see.  Meanwhile 
Pilmoor,  notwithstanding  the  urgent  necessities  of  the 
Churches  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  *'  itinerated '' 
considerably.  In  the  summer  of  1770  he  went  to  Balti- 
more and  other  parts  of  Maryland,  to  aid  Strawbridge, 
Owen,  King,  and  Williams.  He  preached  in  that  city, 
standing  on  the  sidewalk;  and,  being  a  man  of  com- 
manding ajapearance,  and  withal  an  able  and  convincing 
Preacher,  he  was  heard  with  much  interest.''  The  next 
year  we  trace  him  again  to  New  York,  where  "Williams 
labored  with  him.  They  made  an  excursion  to  New 
Rochelle,  where  they  found  a  little  comj^any  gathered  for 
worship,  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Deveau.  A  clergy- 
man present  refused  Pilmoor  the  privilege  of  addressing 
the  meeting ;  but  the  wife  of  Deveau,  lying  sick  in  an 
adjacent  room,  saw  him  through  the  opened  door,  and 
gave  him  a  mysterious  recognition.  During  her  illness 
she  had  had  much  trouble  of  mind ;  she  had  dreamed  that 
she  was  wandering  in  a  dismal  swamp,  without  path,  or 
light,  or  guide ;  when,  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  about 
to  sink  down  hopeless,  a  stranger  appeared  with  a  light 
and  led  her  out  of  the  miry  labyrinth.  At  the  first  glance 
she  now  identified  Pilmoor  with  the  apparition  of  her 
dream,  and  appealed  to  him,  from  her  sick  bed,  to  preach  to 
her  and  the  waiting  company.  He  did  so ;  and  while  "  he 
was  ofiering  to  all  a  present,  free,  full  salvation,"  the  in- 
valid was  converted,  and  in  a  few  days  died  "triumph- 
ant in  the  Lord !"  These  singular  events  awakened 
general  attention ;  Pilmoor  preached  again  to  the  whole 
neighborhood,"*  and  Methodism  Avas  effectively  intro- 
duced into  New  Rochelle,  where,  not  long  after,  Asbury 
was  to  form  the  third  Methodist  Society  of  the  state,  after 

ai  Dr.  HamUton,  Meth.  Quart.  Eev.,  1856,  p.  440, 
^^  Rev.  D.  Devinne,  in  Leduum,  chap.  10. 


JOS  HISTORY    OF    THE 

those  of  John-street  and  Ashgrove.  The  beautiful  town 
became  the  favorite  resort  of  Ashury  and  his  compeers 
for  occasional  repose  from  their  travels,  though  not  from 
their  labors  ;**  the  fountain  whence  Methodism  spread 
through  all  Westchester  county;  its  easternmost  outpost, 
whence  it,  at  last,  invaded  New  England. 

There  are  allusions  in  our  early  records  to  several  ex- 
peditions of  Pilmoor  to  the  Soutli.  He  preached  in  Nor- 
folk, traveled  through  the  southern  parts  of  Virginia  and 
through  North  Carolina,  to  Charleston  in  South  Carolina. 
He  reached,  at  last,  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  matle  a 
pilgrimage  to  Whitefiehl's  Orph.an  House,  scattering 
the  good  seed  over  all  his  route.^*  He  spent  nearly  a 
year  in  this  excursion,  but  left  no  record  of  its  events. 
It  is  said,  however,  that  he  had  many  hair-breadth  es- 
capes of  life  and  limb.  He  encountered  the  violence  of 
the  elements  and  of  persecutors.  At  Charleston  he  could 
obtain  no  place  for  preaching  but  the  Theater,  where, 
while  fervently  delivering  a  sermon,  "suddenly  the  table 
used  by  him  for  a  pulpit,  with  the  chair  he  occupied,  dis- 
appeared," descending  through  a  trap-door  into  the  cel- 
lar. Some  wags,  of  the  "  baser  sort,"  had  contrived  the 
trick  as  a  practical  joke.  Nothing  discouraged,  however, 
the  preacher,  springing  upon  the  stage  with  the  table  in 
his  hands,  invited  the  audience  to  the  adjoining  yard, 
adding  pleasantly,  "  Come  on,  my  friends,  we  will,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  defeat  the  devil  this  time,  and  not  be  driven 
by  him  from  our  work,"  and  then  quietly  finished  his 
discourse.  The  fruits  of  his  Christian  labors  appeared  in 
the  conversion  of  many  souls.  Wherever  he  went  large 
crowds  attended  his  ministry,  and  listened  to  his  message.^* 

"  Asbury's  Journals,  patnm,  •*  Lee,  p.  39. 

»*  Letter  of  G.  V.  Diaosway,  Esq.,  to  the  author.    See  "  The  Method- 
ist," Dec.  5,  1863. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        109 

Other  messengers,  from  Wesley,  were  on  the  sea,  hast- 
ening to  the  help  of  these  laborers.  One  of  them  was 
destined  to  become  the  most  notable  character  in  the 
ecclesiastical  history  of  North  America,  and  was  soon  to 
eclipse  all  his  predecessors  in  that  great  scheme  of  itin- 
erancy which  was  to  extend  its  network  of  evangelization 
over  the  continent.  They  were  to  be  his  co-workers  for 
some  time;  we  may,  therefore,  before  tracing  further 
their  labors,  properly  introduce  him  upon  the  scene. 


liO  HISTORY    OF    THK 


CHAPTER  V. 

WESLEY'S    AMERICAN    MISSIONARIES,    CONTINUED. 

America  appears  ill  Wesley's  Minutes — Appeal  for  more  Preachers  — 
More  sent -- Enrly  Life  of  Fnmcis  Asbury  -  Methodism  in  Stafford- 
shire—  Asbiirj-  becomes  a  Methodist —  His  Character — He  embarks 
for  America  —  Richard  Wrij^iit,  his  Companion — Their  Arrival  in 
Philadelphm  —  Number  of  Methodists  in  America  —  St.  George's 
'  Chapel  —  The  First  rhiladelphia  Methodists  — Bohemia  Manor  —  As- 

I  bury  in  New  Jersey  —  Fetor  Van  I'elt  —  Staten  Island  —  Methodism 

!  there  —  Israel  Disosway  -•-  Asbury  enters  New  York  —  He  contends 

'  f.ir  the  Itinerancy  —  Ho  extemporizes  a  Circuit  —  In  Philadelphia  — 

i  The  Itinerancy  in  Operation  —  Asburj  'b  Preaching  and  Spirit  —  Wes- 

ley appoints  him  "Assistant"  or  Superintendent— His   Labors   in 
Maryland  —  In  Baltimore  —  A  Quarterly  Conference  —  Asbury  forma 
Clajwes  in  Baltimore  —  First  Methodist  Chapel  there  —  Asbuiy's  Bal- 
I  timore  Circuit — Quarterly  Conference. 

The  name  of  "  Anurica"  appears,  in  1770,  for  the  first 
time  iu  Wesley's  list  of  api)ointmcnt8.  F'our  preachers 
are  recorded  jis  composing  the  Httle  corps  of  its  Method- 
ist evangelists:  Joseph  Pilmoor,  IJiehard  noardmaii, 
liobert  Williams,  and  .Tuhn  King.  In  tlie  Minutes  of 
j  •  the  next  year  America  appears  for  the  first  lime  in  the 
list  of  returns  of  menihers  of  Society.  It  reports  three 
hundred  and  si.xteen.  Captain  Webb  was  still  abroad 
laboring  in  the  middle  colonies,  and  was  appealing  to 
Wesley  for  more  jircaehers.  Pilmoor  and  Ponrdman 
also  wrote  to  him,  calling  for  recruits.  Their  reports  of 
success,  with  the  returns  of  more  than  three  hundred 
members  in  their  infant  Churches,  could  not  be  resisted 
Ity  Wesley  ;  and  though  British  Methodism  was  now  in 
an  anxious  crisis,  the  disjunction  of  its  Calvinistic  and 
Arminian  parties,  and  the  Conference  of  1771  was  agita 


>'^-'»— (^-^-^ 


^ 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         Ill 

ted  by  tbat  controversy  and  by  the  presence  and  remon- 
strance of  Shii-ley,  one  of  the  Calvinistic  leaders — the  ori- 
gin of  the  great  Arininian  contest  of  the  last  century,  and 
of  Fletcher's  memorable  "  Checks," — yet  Wesley  turned 
from  the  gathering  storm  and  pointed  the  Conference 
again  to  the  brightening  light  in  the  Western  sky.  "  Our 
brethren  in  Amei'ica  call  aloud  for  help,"  he  said  to  the 
assembled  body ;  "  who  are  willing  to  go  over  and  help 
them  ?"  Five  responded,  and  two  were  appointed. 
They  were  all  that  could  be  spared  from  the  urgent  work 
at  home,  supplied  as  yet  by  but  about  a  hundred  and 
twenty  effective  itinerants. 

One  of  them  was  a  young  man  who  is  henceforth  to  oc- 
cupy so  prominent  a  place  in  our  narrati\'e,  and  in  the 
recording  of  whose  history  the  Church  has  been  so  dila 
tory,  that  we  may  well  attempt  solicitously  to  trace  the 
scanty  details  of  his  extraordinary  life  which  yet  remain. 
He  was  the  only  son  of  an  intelligent  peasant  of  the 
Parish  of  Handsworth,  Staffordshire,  who  was  "  remark- 
able for  honesty  and  industry,"  "  having  all  things  need- 
ful to  enjoy,"  and  who  "  might  have  been  wealthy  had 
he  been  as  saving  as  he  was  laborious ;"  but,  contented 
with  rural  tranquillity  and  simplicity,  he  was  "  farmer 
and  gardener  to  the  two  richest  families  of  the  par- 
ish."' The  death  of  an  only  daughter,  a  "  darling  child," 
produced  such  an  impression  upon  the  heart  of  the 
mother  of  the  family  as  to  lead  her  to  a  religious  life 
and  to  a  passionate  love  of  books,  the  best  reliefs  to  the 
maternal  grief  which  clung  to  her  through  a  long  life. 
She  "  strongly  urged  "  her  husband  "  to  family  reading 
and  prayer."  She  trained  her  only  remaining  child  with 
religious  care.  He  never  "  dared  an  oath  or  hazarded  a 
lie."  His  youthful  associates  were  addicted  to  the  usual 
>  Asbury's  Journals,  vol.  ii,  p.  157.    Ed.  of  1852. 


112  HISTORY    OF    THE 

vices  of  their  age,  but  he  "  often  retired  from  their  soci- 
ety micasy  auJ  melancholy."  His  intelligent  parents 
could  appreciate  the  value  of  education  and  early  sent 
him  to  school.  He  could  read  the  Bible  when  but  seven 
years  of  age,  and  "greatly  delighted  in  its  historical 
parts."  "  My  schoolmaster,"  he  says,  "  was  a  great 
churl,  and  used  to  beat  me  cruelly ;  this  drove  me  to 
prayer,  and  it  appeared  to  me  that  God  was  near  to  me. 
My  father  having  but  the  one  son  greatly  desired  to  keep 
me  at  school,  he  cared  not  how  long ;  but  in  this  design 
he  was  disappointed  ;  for  my  master,  by  his  severity, 
had  filled  me  with  such  horrible  dread,  that  with  me 
anything  was  preferable  to  going  to  school.  I  lived  some 
time  in  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  ungodly  families 
we  had  in  the  parish.  Here  I  became  vain,  but  not 
openly  wicked.  Some  months  after  this  I  returned 
home,  and  made  my  choice,  when  about  thirteen  years 
and  a  half  old,  to  learn  a  branch  of  business  at  which  I 
wrought  about  six  years  and  a  half;  during  this  time  I 
enjoyed  great  liberty,  and  in  the  family  was  treated  more 
like  a  son  or  an  e<iual  than  an  apprentice.  God  sent  a 
pious  man,  not  a  Methodist,  into  our  neighborhood,  and 
my  mother  invited  him  to  our  house.  By  his  conversa- 
tion and  prayers  I  was  awakened  before  I  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  I  began  to  pray  morning  and  evening,  be- 
ing drawn  by  the  cords  of  love  as  with  the  bands  of  a 
man." 

He  resorted  to  West  Bromwich  Church,  about  five 
miles  from  Birmingham,  on  the  highway  to  Liverpool, 
where  he  heard  Talbot,  Hawes,  Bagnall,  Venn,  and 
others,  notable  "  Calvinistic  Methodists "  of  that  day, 
friends  of  Whitefield  and  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon. 
The  Earl  of  Dartmouth's  residence  was  in  the  vicinity, 
and  was  the  asylum  of  the  preachers,  who  sometimea 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         113 

held  meetings  in  the  hall  of  the  Methodistic  nobleman. 
The  youthful  inquirer  read  the  Calvinistic  Methodist 
books  of  the  time,  especially  the  sermons  of  Whitefield. 
He  asked  his  mother  "  who  and  what  were  the  Method- 
ists?" for  the  Armiuiau  or  Wesleyau  Methodists  had 
made  an  extraordinary  stir  m  Staffordshire,  and  were 
"  everywhere  spoken  against."  In  no  part  of  the  United 
Kingdom  had  they  encountered  severer  conflicts.  It 
was  there,  as  we  have  seen,  that  Charles  Wesley  could 
distinguish,  by  their  marks  of  violence,  the  homes  of 
Methodists  as  he  rode  through  its  villages;  that  the 
mob  planted  a  flag  and  kept  it  flying  several  days  in  de- 
fiance of  the  authorities ;  that  Methodist  men  and  women 
had  to  flee  with  their  children  to  escape  death ;  that  the 
rabble,  dividing  into  several  companies,  marched  from 
village  to  village,  placing  "  the  whole  region  in  a  state 
little  short  of  civil  war."  Relics  of  ruined  furniture  are 
still  kept  in  Methodist  families  of  the  county  as  sacred 
mementoes  of  those  days  of  the  fiery  trial  of  their  fathers. 
"Wednesbury,  not  far  from  the  home  of  the  good  farmer 
of  Handsworth,  and  where  his  young  son  was  first  to 
meet  with  Wesleyans,  was  especially  the  scene  of  such 
outrages.  The  mob  reigned  for  nearly  a  week  in  that 
town ;  houses  of  Methodists  were  broken  into,  furniture 
destroyed  and  thrown  out  the  windows,  and  portable  prop- 
erty carried  away  by  the  rioters,  who  passed  with  burdens 
of  it  unchecked  along  the  streets ;  Methodist  men  were 
knocked  down  before  their  houses,  Methodist  women 
maltreated  in  a  way  which  Wesley  says  he  dare  not 
describe.  Wesley  himself  had  been  insulted,  beaten 
with  bludgeons,  and  led  by  an  uncontrollable  mob 
through  the  streets  during  much  of  a  rainy  night,  hardly 
expectmg  to  survive  till  morning ;  the  "  noise  on  every 
side  being,"  he  says,  "like  the  roaring  of  the  sea."  The 
A— 8 


114  HISTORY    OF    THE 

devout  youth  of  Handsworth  had  heard  of  this  persecuted 
people;  some  of  them  had  knocked  at  the  cottage  door 
of  his  mother  in  his  early  childhood,  had  been  welcomed 
there,  and  the  neighbors  been  invited  in  to  hear  them 
sing,  pray,  and  "  exhort."  To  his  inquiries  about  them 
now  she  replied  with  a  "  favorable  account,"  and  di- 
rected him  to  a  person  who  could  take  him  to  Wednes- 
bury  to  hear  them.  He  went,  and  was  surprised  at  every- 
thing he  saw ;  they  met,  not  in  a  church,  "  but  it  was 
better ;"  "  the  people  were  so  devout,  men  and  women 
kneeling  down,  saying  Amen."  lie  was  delighted  with 
their  singing.  Accustomed,  in  his  parish  church,  to  pre- 
lections rather  than  preaching,  he  was  surprised  to  hear 
sermons  without  a  sermon  book,  "  wonderful  "  prayers 
without  a  prayer  book.  "  It  is  cert;iinly,"  he  wrote,  '*  a 
strange  way,  but  the  l>est  way.  The  j»reacher  talked 
about  confidence,  assurance,  etc.,  of  which  all  my  flights 
and  hopes  fell  short.  I  had  no  deep  convictions,  nor 
had  I  committed  any  deep  kn(»wn  sins.  At  one  ser- 
mon, some  time  after,  my  companion  was  powerfully 
wrought  on  ;  I  was  exceedingly  grieved  that  I  could  not 
\ve«'j>  like  him  ;  yet  I  knew  myself  to  be  in  a  state  of  un- 
belief On  a  certain  time  when  we  were  jtraying  in  my 
father's  barn  I  believe  the  Lord  pardoned  my  sins  and 
justified  my  soul.  After  this,  we  met  for  reading  .-md 
prayer,  ami  had  large  and  good  meetings,  and  were  much 
persecuted,  until  the  persons  at  whose  houses  we  held 
them  were  afraid,  and  they  were  discontinued.  I  then 
held  meetings  frequently  at  my  father's  house,  exhorting 
the  people  there,  as  also  at  Sutton  Coldfield,  and  several 
souls  professed  to  find  peace  through  my  i.ibors.  I  met 
in  Cla.s8  a  while  at  Bromwich-Heath,  and  met  in  Band 
at  Wednesbury.  I  had  preached  some  months  before  I 
jtiiblifly  appeared  in  the  Methodist  meeting-houses,  when 


..J 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        115 

my  labors  became  more  public  and  extensive ;  some  were 
amazed,  not  knowing  how  I  had  exercised  elsewhere. 
Behold  me  now  a  Local  Preacher,  thehumble  and  willing 
servant  of  any  and  of  every  preacher  that  called  on  me 
by  night  or  by  day ;  being  ready,  with  hasty  steps,  to  go 
far  and  wide  to  do  good,  visiting  Derbyshire,  Stafford- 
shire, Warwickshire,  Worcestershire,  and  indeed  almost 
every  place  within  my  reach,  for  the  sake  of  precious 
souls ;  preaching,  generally,  three,  four,  and  five  times  a 
week,  and  at  the  same  time  pursuing  my  calling.  I 
think,  when  I  was  between  twenty-one  and  twenty-two 
years  of  age  I  gave  myself  up  to  God  and  his  work  after 
acting  as  a  Local  Preacher  nearly  five  years." 

He  was  only  about  seventeen  years  old  when  he 
began  to  hold  public  meetings,  not  eighteen  when  he 
began  to  preach,  and  about  twenty-one  when  he  started 
out  as  an  itinerant,  supplying  the  place  of  an  absent  trav- 
eling preacher,  though  not  yet  received  by  the  Annual 
Conference. 

When  appointed  by  Wesley  to  America  he  was  a 
young  man,  about  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  had 
been  in  the  traveling  ministry  only  about  five  years,  and 
but  four  years  on  the  catalogue  of  regular  appointments, 
but  had  seen  hard  service  on  Bedfordshire,  Colchester, 
and  Wiltshire  circuits.  He  was  studious,  somewhat 
introspective,  with  a  thoughtfulness  which  was  tinged 
at  times  with  melancholy.  His  was  one  of  those  minds 
which  can  find  rest  only  in  labor;  designed  for  great  work, 
and  therefore  endowed  with  a  restless  instinct  for  it. 
He  was  an  incessant  preacher,  of  singular  practical  di- 
rectness; was  ever  in  motion,  on  foot  or  on  horseback 
over  his  long  circuits ;  a  rigorous  disciplinarian,  dis- 
posed to  do  everything  by  method ;  a  man  of  few  words, 
and  those  always  to  the  point ;   of  quick  and  marvelous 


116  HISTORY    OF    THE 

insight  into  character;  of  a  sobriety,  not  to  say  severity 
of  temperament,  which  might  have  been  repulsive  liad 
it  not  been  softened  by  a  profound  religious  humility, 
for  his  soul,  ever  aspiring  to  the  highest  virtue,  was  ever 
complaining  within  itself  over  its  shortcomings.  His 
mind  had  eminently  a  military  cast.  He  never  lost  his 
self-possession,  and  could  therefore  seldom  be  surprised. 
He  seemed  not  to  know  fear,  and  never  yielded  to  dis- 
couragement in  a  course  sanctioned  by  his  faith  or  con- 
science.  He  could  plan  sagaciously,  seldom  pausing  to 
consider  theories  of  wisdom  or  policy,  but  as  seldom 
failing  in  practical  prudence.  The  rigor  which  his  dis- 
ciplinary predilections  imposed  upon  others  was  so 
exemplified  by  himself,  that  his  associates  or  subordin 
ates,  instead  of  revolting  from  it,  accepted  it  as  a  chal- 
lenge of  heroic  emulation.  Discerning  men  could  not 
come  into  his  presence  without  perceiving  that  his  soul 
was  essentially  heroic,  and  th.at  nothing  committed  to 
his  agency  could  fail,  if  it  depended  upon  conscientious- 
ness, prudence,  courage,  labor,  and  persistence.  "  Who," 
says  one  who  knew  him  intimately,  "  who  of  us  could  be 
in  his  company  without  feeling  impressed  with  a  rever- 
ential awe  and  profound  respect  ?  It  was  almost  im- 
possible to  approach  him  without  feeling  the  strong  influ- 
ence of  his  spirit  and  presence.  There  was  something 
in  this  remarkable  fact  almost  inexplicable  «ind  indescrib- 
able. Was  it  owing  to  the  strength  and  elevation  of  his 
spirit,  the  sublime  conceptions  of  his  mind,  the  dignity 
and  majesty  of  his  soul,  or  the  sacred  profession  with 
which  he  was  clothed,  as  an  embassador  of  God,  in- 
vested with  divine  authority?  But  so  it  was;  it  ap- 
peared as  though  the  very  atmosphere  in  which  he 
moved  gave  unusual  sensations  of  diffidence  and  hum- 
ble restraint  to  the  boldest  confidence  ofnia!)."'  Withal 
»  Ezeldel  Cooper,  Asbury's  Funeral  Sermon,  p.  i5. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         117 

his  appearance  was  in  his  favor.  In  his  most  famil- 
iar portrait  he  has  the  war-worn  aspect  of  a  military- 
veteran,  but  in  earlier  life  his  frame  was  robust,  his  coun- 
tenance full,  fresh,  and  expressive  of  generous  if  not  re- 
fined feelings.  He  was  somewhat  attentive  to  his  apparel, 
and  always  maintained  an  easy  dignity  of  manners, 
which  commanded  the  respect  if  not  the  aifection  of  his 
associates.  The  appeals  from  the  American  Methodists 
had  reached  him  in  his  rural  circuits,  for  he  had  never 
left  his  ministerial  work  to  attend  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence. Two  months  before  the  session  of  lV7l  his  mind 
had  been  impressed  with  the  thought  that  America  was 
his  destined  field  of  labor.  He  saw  in  the  new  world 
a  befitting  sphere  for  his  apostolic  aspirations. 

These  great  qualities,  made  manifest  in  his  subsequent 
career,  were  inherent  in  the  man,  and  Wesley  could  not 
fail  to  perceive  them.  He  not  only  accepted  him  for 
America,  but,  notwithstanding  his  youth,  appointed  him, 
at  the  ensuing  conference,  at  the  head  of  the  American 
ministerial  itinerancy. 

Receiving  his  appointment,  he  returned  from  the  con- 
ference at  Bristol  to  take  leave  of  his  friends.  "  I  went 
home,"  he  writes,  "to  acquaint  my  parents  with  my 
great  undertaking,  which  I  opened  in  as  gentle  a  manner 
as  possible.  Though  it  was  grievous  to  flesh  and  blood, 
they  consented  to  let  me  go.  My  mother  is  one  of  the 
tenderest  parents  in  the  world;  but  I  believe  she  was 
blessed  in  the  present  instance  with  Divine  assistance  to 
part  with  me.  I  visited  most  of  my  friends  in  Stafford- 
shire, Warwickshire,  and  Gloucestershire,  and  felt  much 
life  and  power  among  them.  Several  of  our  meetings 
were  indeed  held  in  the  spirit  and  life  of  God.  Many  of 
my  friends  were  struck  with  wonder  when  they  heard  of 
my  going,  but  none  opened  their  mouths  against  it,  hop- 


L.  .. 


118  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  it  was  of  God.  Some  wishoil  tliat  their  situation 
would  allow  them  to  go  with  me."  lie  arrived,  at  last 
at  Bristol  to  embark,  but  without  a  penny  for  his  ex- 
penses. "  Yet,"  he  writes,  "  the  Lord  soon  opened  the 
hearts  of  friends,  who  supplied  me  with  clothes  and  ten 
pounds:  thus  I  found,  by  experience,  that  he  will  pro- 
vide for  those  who  trust  in  him."  The  ship  sailed  on 
the  4th  of  Sejttcmber,  lie  had  but  two  blankets  for  his 
bed,  and  slept  with  them  on  the  hard  boards  during  the 
voyage.  "  I  want,"  he  writes,  "  fiiith,  courage,  patience, 
meekness,  love.  When  others  suffer  so  much  for  their 
temporal  interests,  surely  I  may  suffer  a  little  for  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  souls.  I  feel  my  spirit 
bound  to  the  new  world,  and  my  heart  united  to  the 
people,  though  unknown ;  and  have  great  cause  to 
believe  that  I  am  not  running  before  I  am  sent.  The 
more  troubles  I  meet  with,  the  more  convinced  I  am 
that  I  am  doing  the  will  of  God."  When  eight  days 
out  he  wrote,  "  Whither  am  I  going  ?  To  the  new 
world.  Wliat  to  do  ?  To  gain  honor  ?  No,  if  I  know 
my  own  heart.  To  get  money  ?  No ;  I  am  going  to 
live  to  God,  and  to  bring  others  so  to  do.  If  God  does 
not  acknowledge  me  in  America  I  will  soon  return  to 
England.  I  know  my  views  are  upright  now :  may  they 
never  be  otherwise." 

He  preached  frequently  on  the  voyage,  and  spent  his 
leisure  time  "  in  prayer,  retirement,  and  reading."  "  INIy 
spirit,"  he  wrote,  *'  mourns  and  thirsts  after  entire  devo- 
tion."   Such  was  Francis  Asbury. 

His  companion,  Richard  Wright,  had  traveled  but  one 
year  in  England  when  he  set  out  on  his  voyage  U 
America.  We  know  but  little  of  his  history,  scarcely 
more  indeed  than  that  he  accompanied  Asbury ;  that  he 
spent  most  of  his  time,  while  here,  in  Maryland  and  Vir 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        119 

ginia,  and  a  part  of  it,  in  the  spring  of  1772,  in  New 
York  city;  that  in  the  early  part  of  1773  he  was  again 
in  Virginia,  laboring  in  Norfolk;  and  that  in  1774  he 
returned  to  England,  where,  after  three  years  spent  in 
the  itinerancy,  he  ceased  to  travel,  and  totally  disap- 
peared from  the  published  records  of  the  denomination.* 
After  a  voyage  of  more  than  fifty  days  they  reached 
Philadelphia,  "  and,"  says  Asbury,  "  were  brought  in  the 
evening  to  a  large  church,  where  we  met  with  a  consid- 
erable congregation,  Mr.  Pilmoor  preached.  The  people 
looked  on  us  with  pleasure,  hardly  knowing  how  to 
show  their  love  sufficiently,  bidding  us  welcome  with 
fervent  afiection,  and  receiving  us  as  angels  of  God.  O 
that  we  may  always  walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  where- 
with we  are  called  !  When  I  came  near  the  American 
shore  my  very  heart  melted  within  me  to  think  from 
whence  I  came,  whither  I  was  going,  and  what  I  was  going 
about.  But  I  felt  my  mind  opened  to  the  people,  and 
my  tongue  loosed  to  speak.  I  feel  that  God  is  here,  and 
find  plenty  of  all  we  need."  On  the  third  of  November 
he  writes,  "  I  find  my  mind  drawn  heavenward.  The 
Lord  hath  helped  me  by  his  power,  and  my  soul  is  in  a 
paradise.  May  God  keep  me  as  the  apple  of  his  eye  till 
all  the  storms  of  life  are  past."  On  the  fourth  of  No- 
vember he  says,  "  We  held  a  watch-night.  It  began  at 
eight  o'clock.  Mr.  Pilmoor  preached,  and  the  people  at- 
tended with  great  seriousness.  Very  few  left  the  solemn 
place  till  the  conclusion.  Toward  the  end  a  plain  man 
spoke,  who  came  out  of  the  country,  and  his  words  went 
with  great  power  to  the  souls  of  the  people,  so  that  we 
may  say,  '  Who  hath  despised  the  day  of  small  things  ?' 
Not  the  Lord  our  God ;  then  why  should  self-important 

'  Sandford's  "  Wesley's  Missionaries  to  America,"  p.  28.     New  York, 
ISU, 


120  HISTORY    OF    THE 

man  ?"  The  next  day  he  writes,  *'  My  own  mind  is  fixed 
on  God ;  he  hath  helped  me.  Glory  be  to  him  that 
livcth  and  abidetli  forever,"  On  the  sixth  he  writes,  "  I 
preached  at  Philadelphia  my  last  sermon,  before  I  set  out 
for  New  York,  on  Rom.  viii,  32 :  'He  that  spared  not  his 
own  Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he 
not  with  him  freely  give  us  all  things  ?'  This  also  was  a 
night  of  power  to  my  own  and  many  other  souls."  Thus 
devoutly  did  he  begin  his  great  American  mission. 

There  were  now  probably  about  six  hundred  Methodists 
in  the  colonies,*  and  at  least  ten  preachers,  including 
Embury,  Webb,  Williams,  King,  and  Owen,  besides 
Wesley's  missionaries.  The  "  large  church  "  in  which 
Asbury  heard  Pilmoor  preach  on  the  evening  of  his 
arrival  was  St.  George's,  still  standing,  and  revered  as 
the  "  Old  Cathedral  "  of  Methodism  in  I'hiladelphia.  It 
had  been  built  by  a  German  Reformed  Society,  but  its 
projectors  failed,  and  sold  it  in  17T0  to  Miles  Pennington, 
one  of  the  first  members  of  the  first  class,  of  seven  per- 
sons, formed  in  the  city  by  Captain  Webb  in  1768.  It 
was  })robably  at  the  instance  of  Webb  that  Pennington 
obtained  it,  for  the  veteran  soldier  knew  the  value  of 
fortified  fields.  He  gave  liberally  from  his  own  funds 
toward  it.  The  same  year  it  was  conveyed  to  the  cap- 
tain and  others  as  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Society 
For  a  long  time  it  was  unfinished  and  unfurnished,  only 
half  floored  with  rough  boards,  its  pulpit  a  rude  square 
box  on  the  north  side.  "  In  process  of  time,"  says  a 
Methodist  chronicler,  "  it  was  floored  from  end  to  end, 
and  more  comely  seats  were  put  in  it,  with  a  new  pulpit, 
like  a  tall  tub  on  a  post,  which  was  the  fashion  of  the 
times,  but  one  of  the  worst  fashions  that  ever  was  for  a 
pulpit.  It  was  too  high,  it  held  but  one  person,  and 
<  Ban^,  i,  p.  69. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH,         121 

scarcely  had  room  in  it  to  allow  any  action  of  the 
speaker.  This  second  pulpit  stood  in  the  right  place — 
in  the  center  of  the  east  end  of  the  church.  The  house 
was  not  plastered  till  Dr.  Coke  came  to  America,  and  the 
Methodists  were  organized  into  a  Church.  There  was 
no  church  in  the  connection  that  Mr.  Asbury  labored  as 
much  for  as  St.  George's.  It  was  for  nearly  fifty  years 
the  largest  place  of  worship  that  the  Methodists  had  in 
America.  It  was  their  cathedral."^  Such  was  the  first 
of  that  series  of  Methodist  chapels  in  Philadelphia,  which 
has  ever  since  grown  more  rapidly  than  the  chapel  pro- 
visions of  any  other  denomination  in  the  city,  orthodox 
or  heterodox,  and  amounts  in  our  day  to  seventy-two 
places  of  worship,  more  than  one  sixth  of  all  the  city 
churches.^ 

The  new  missionaries  found  warm  hearts  in  the  shell 
of  St.  George's  Chapel.  There  was  James  Emerson,  the 
first  class-leader  of  the  city  ;  Miles  Pennington,  who  had 
ventured,  under  the  inspiration  of  Webb,  to  assume  the 
whole  responsibility  of  the  purchase  of  the  edifice ;  Rob- 
ert Fitzgerald,  and  John  Hood,  the  friend  of  Dr.  Wran- 
gle, the  Swedish  friend  of  Methodism ;  these  four,  with 
some  of  their  wives,  constituted  the  first  class  of  seven. 
Hood  was  now  Emerson's  successor  as  leader,  and  after- 
ward became  a  Local  Preacher.  His  faithful  associate, 
Lambert  Wilmer,  the  other  friend  of  Wrangle,  had 
joined  the  class  soon   after  its   organization,  and  was 

6  Lednum,  p.  47. 

'  Christ.  Adv.  and  Journal,  Dec.  10, 1863.  "  The  largest  increase  dur- 
ing the  half  century  has  been  achieved  by  the  Methodists,  the  Episco- 
palians and  Presbyterians  being  next  in  order.  The  number  of  churches 
in  our  city  now  is  about  eightfold  greater  than  it  was  in  1811,  while  our 
population  is  scarcely  six  times  as  large ;  which,  considering  the  fact 
that  churches  now  are,  as  a  general  thing,  much  more  spacious,  is  proof 
that,  relatively,  our  church  accommodations  at  least  have  largely  in- 
creased."— Philadelphia  Daily  Press. 


122  HISTORY    or    THE 

at  hand  to  welcome  the  missionaries.  His  wife  became 
a  female  Class-leader  of  St.  George's,  and  their  house  was 
the  endeared  asylum  of  the  itinerants  for  many  years. 
The  friendship  of  Wilmer  and  Hood  lasted,  as  we 
have  seen,  to  the  end,  and  they  sleep  together  in  one 
grave.  "  John  Hood  continued  a  member  of  St.  George's, 
acting  as  a  Local  Preacher,  Class-leader,  and  clerk :  he 
was  in  his  day  one  of  the  '  sweet  singers  of  Israel.'  When 
he  stood  up  to  sing  in  St.  George's,  his  pleasing  counte- 
nance seemed  to  have  heaven  daguerreotyped  upon  it, 
and  his  sweet  voice  was  in  harmony  with  his  face.  He 
wa*  one  of  the  best  of  Christians,  beloved  by  all  that  knew 
liim."'  "  Heaven,"  was  the  last  word  uttered  by  his 
dying  lips.  He  fell  asleep,  probably  the  oldest  Method- 
ist in  the  new  world.^ 

Having  refreshed  themselves  among  these  fervent 
brethren,  the  missionaries  took  their  departure  for  new 
fields;  Asbury  to  the  Xorth,  Wright  to  the  South.  The 
latter  spent  the  winter  mostly  on  Bohemia  Manor  in 
Maryland.  Whitefield  had  preached  there  often.  "  The 
chief  families — the  Bayards  and  Bouchells — were  mostly 
his  disciples.  There  is  a  room  in  a  certain  house  where 
he  slept,  prayed,  and  studied,  that  is  still  called  White- 
field's  room.  The  Wesleyans  now  began  to  cultivate 
this  field.  Solomon  Hersey,  who  lived  below  the  pres- 
ent Bohemia  Mills,  at  what  was  then  called  Sluyter's 
Mill,  was  the  first  available  friend  to  Methodism.  He 
had  the  preaching  at  his  house  for  a  number  of  years; 
and  though  the  first  Methodist  preaching  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland  was  in  Kent  county,  yet  the  evidence 
in  the  case  leads  us  to  believe  that  the  first  Society 
on  this  shore  was  formed  at  Hersey's   in   1772.     This 

'  Lednom,  p.  42. 

•  Ibid.    lie  died  in  IS'29,  in  his  oi^^htieth  year. 


r" 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         123 

Society  is  still  represented  at  the  Manor  Chapel.  The 
old  Log  Chapel  which  was  called  Bethesda,  and  fell  into 
decay  an  age  ago,  was  built  between  IVSO  and  1790. 
The  Methodists  had  another  appointment  at  Thompson's 
school-house,  where  a  Society  was  raised  up,  at  a  later 
date,  and  a  chapel  called  Bethel  (at  Back  Creek)  was 
erected  subsequent  to  1790.  These  two  appointments 
were  established  on  what  was  called  Bohemia  Manor,  as 
early  as  1771.  "While  Wright  was  laboring  on  Bo- 
hemia Manor,  his  attachments  became  so  strong  to  the 
people  that  it  was  feared  he  would  settle  there.  He  had 
the  art  of  pleasing,  and  it  is  likely  that  overtures  were 
made  to  him  by  some  of  the  principal  men,  in  view  of 
having  constant  instead  of  occasional  preaching."^ 

On  Wednesday,  November  7,  Asbury  started  from 
Philadelphia  on  his  route  through  New  Jersey  for  New 
York.  He  preached  in  the  Court-house  at  Burlington 
to  a  large  throng,  "his  heart  being  much  opened." 
Passing  on,  he  was  saluted  by  Peter  Van  Pelt,  who  had 
heard  him  in  Philadelphia,  and  now  became  his  life-long 
friend.  He  resided  on  Staten  Island,  and  constrained 
Asbury  to  spend  a  few  days  at  his  hospitable  mansion. 
The  early  Methodist  itinerants,  devoting  all  to  what  they 
deemed  God's  work,  expected  him  to  take  care  of  them 
in  all  things.  Asbury,  as  we  have  seen,  arrived  in  Bris- 
tol to  embark  for  America  "without  a  penny"  in  his 
pocket,  but  the  providential  provision  for  his  voyage 
came  with  its  necessity.  He  accepted  the  invitation  to 
Staten  Island  as  also  providential,  and  was  not  disap- 
pointed, for  important  consequences  were  to  follow  it. 
"  I  believe,"  he  wrote  at  the  time,  "  God  hath  sent  us  to 
this  country. '  All  I  seek  is  to  be  more  spiritual,  and 
given  up  entirely  to  Him  whom  I  love."  His  frame  of 
» Lednum,  p.  73. 


124  HISTORY    or    THE 

mind  was  compatible  with  liis  new  work.  "  On  the 
Lord's  day,  in  the  morning,  November  11,"  he  adds,  "I 
preached  again  to  a  large  company  of  people,  with  some 
enlargement  of  mind,  at  the  house  of  my  worthy  friend 
Mr.  Van  Pelt ;  in  the  afternoon  to  a  still  larger  congre- 
gation ;  and  was  invited  in  the  evening  to  the  house  of 
Justice  Wriglit,  where  I  had  a  large  company  to  hear 
me.  Still  evidence  grows  upon  me,  and  I  trust  I  am  in 
the  order  of  God,  and  that  there  will  be  a  willing  people 
here.  My  soul  has  been  much  affected  with  tliem.  My 
heart  and  mouth  are  open;  only  I  am  still  sensilde  of  my 
deep  insufficiency,  and  that  mostly  with  regard  to  holi- 
ness. It  is  true,  God  lias  given  me  some  gifts  ;  but 
what  are  they  to  holuioss  ?  It  is  for  holiness  my  spirit 
mourns.  I  wish  to  walk  constantly  before  God  without 
reproof." 

This  was  probably  the  first  Methodist  preaching  on  the 
beautiful  island,  and  opened  the  way  for  it  to  become 
one  of  the  garden  spots  of  the  denomination,  with  its  six 
Methodist  Churches  of  our  day,  though  it  is  only  four- 
teen miles  in  length,  with  but  from  two  to  four  in 
breadth.  Peter  Van  Pelt  and  Justice  Wright  continued 
to  be  steadfast  friends  of  the  infant  cause,  and  their 
houses  were  long  favorite  homes  of  Asbury  and  his  fel- 
low-laborers. Benjamin  Van  Pelt,  the  brother  of  Peter, 
became  a  useful  Loc^il  Preacher,  and  one  of  the  founders 
of  Methodism  in  Tennessee,  then  the  furthest  West.'" 


'»  Rev.  Wm.  Barke,  a  Western  pioneer  itinerant,  says,  *'  He  bad  con- 
aidernlde  talents,  and  was  very  nuefnl  in  that  new  country.  Several 
Societies  were  formed  by  his  ministry,  and  one  of  the  first  Methodist 
chapels  in  this  country  was  Van  Pelt's  Meeting-house.  He  was  one  of 
the  '  Fathers '  of  Methodism  in  East  Tennessee,  where  he  settled 
Lt'tween  ITS'"  and  179i'.  He  wa-s  a  close  and  constant  friend  of  BLshop 
Asbury.  Ue  will  be  long  remembered  by  the  people  of  the  French 
Broad  country." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        125 

Asbury  often  returned  to  the  island.  At  one  of  his 
early  visits  a  new  and  memorable  name  appears  in  his 
Journal,  that  of  Israel  Disosway.  "  Surely,"  wrote  the 
evangelist,  "  God  sent  me  to  these  people  at  first,  and  I 
trust  he  will  continue  to  bless  them  and  pour  out  his 
Spirit  upon  them,  and  receive  them  at  last  to  himself." 
His  prayer  has  since  been  answered  in  hundreds  if  not 
thousands  of  instances.  He  now  preached  at  the  houses 
of  Van  Pelt,  Wright,  and  Disosway.  There  were 
already  about  half  a  dozen  preaching  places  on  the 
island.  Israel  Disosway  became  its  first  Class-leader. 
Its  first  quarterly  meeting  was  held  in  his  baru,  and  the 
timbers  of  its  first  Methodist  church  were  cut  from  his 
trees."  He  removed  to  New  York,  and  lived  long  a 
pillar  in  Embui'y's  Society,  at  John-street,  and  his  name, 
represented  by  his  descendants,  is  still  familiar  and  hon- 
ored in  the  Methodism  of  the  metropolis. 

Asbury  arrived  in  the  city  on  the  12th  of  November. 
"  Now,"  he  wrote  as  he  entered  it,  "  Now  I  must  apply 
myself  to  my  old  work — to  watch,  and  fight,  and  pray. 
Lord,  help."  Boardman,  "  a  worthy,  loving  man,"  wel- 
comed him.  He  opened  his  commission  the  next  day 
with  a  characteristic  sermon  on  the  text,  "  I  am  determ- 
ined to  know  nothing  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ 
and  him  crucified."  He  was  in  the  pulpit  again  the  fol- 
lowing day,  and  wrote  at  its  conclusion,  "  My  heart  is 
truly  enlarged,  and  I  know  that  the  life  and  power  of 
religion  is  here."  The  Sabbath  was  a  joyful  occasion  to 
him;  he  had  been  heartily  received,  and  his  spirit  was 
kindled  with  the  fervor  of  his  zeal.  "Lord,  help  me 
against  the  mighty,"  he  wrote.  "  I  feel  a  regard  for  the 
people,  and  I  think  the  Americans  are  more  ready  to 
receive  the  word  than  the  English ;  and  to  see  the  poor 
»>  Gabriel  P.  Disosway,  iu  Lednum,  p.  421. 


126  HISTORY    OF    THE 

negroes  so  affected  is  pleasing ;  to  see  their  sable  coun- 
tenances in  our  solemn  assemblies,  and  to  hear  them  sing 
with  cheerful  melody  their  Redeemer's  praise,  affected 
me  much,  and  made  me  ready  to  say,  '  Of  a  truth  I  per- 
ceive God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.'" 

He  could  not  l)e  content,  however,  with  stationary 
labors.  He  had  always,  since  the  commencement  of  his 
ministry,  been  an  itinerant,  and  he  must  always  continue 
such.  Boardman  and  Pilnioor,  as  we  have  seen,  con- 
fined themselves  mostly  to  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  and 
New  York,  for  the  occasional  exceptions,  already  noticed, 
took  place  mostly  after  Asbury's  arrival,  and  at  his  in- 
stance. In  about  a  week  at\er  reaching  New  York 
Asbury  writes :  "  I  have  not  yet  the  thing  which  I  seek — 
a  circulation  of  preachers.  I  am  fixed  to  the  Methodist 
plan  ;  I  am  willing  to  suffer,  yea,  to  die,  sooner  than 
betray  so  good  a  cause  by  any  means.  It  will  be  a  hard 
matter  to  stand  against  all  opposition,  as  an  iron  pillar 
strong,  and  steadfast  as  a  wall  of  brass;  but  through 
Christ  strengthening  me  I  can  do  all  things."  Supremely 
important  was  this  disposition.  Wesley  had  rightly  esti- 
tnafrd  his  man  when  he  commissiotieil  Asbury  for  the 
Western  world.  For  however  expedient  modifications 
of  the  itinerancy  might  become,  in  the  maturity  of  the  de- 
nomination, it  was  now,  as  we  have  seen,  the  great  neces- 
sity of  the  country  and  the  special  work  of  Methodism  in  it. 
But  there  was  already  spreading  among  the  young  Soci- 
eties a  disposition  to  localize  their  few  pastors.  Many 
of  the  oldest  itinerants,  during  the  remainder  of  the  cen- 
tury, favored  this  tendency,  and  ceased  to  travel."  As 
bury,  speaking  of  Wright,  said,  "  I  fear  after  all  he  will 
settle  on  Bohemia."     Pihuoor  and  Boardman  were  also 

'»  "  I  find,"  writes  Asbury,  "  that  preachers  have  their  friends  in  th« 
cities,  and  care  not  to  leave  them." — JournaU,  anno  1772. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        127 

inclined  to  settle  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Straw- 
bridge,  though  his  name  appears  in  the  Minutes  of  IVZS 
and  1775,  was  subsequently  settled  over  the  Sara's  Creek 
and  Bush  Forest  congregations;  and  Asbury  himself  had 
"a  call"  to  an  Episcopal  church  in  Maryland.  The 
Church  and  the  nation  owe  the  maintenance  of  the  itin- 
erancy, with  its  incalculable  blessings,  chiefly  to  the  in- 
vincible energy  of  Francis  Asbury. 

On  the  22d  he  writes :  "At  present  I  ara  dissatisfied. 
I  judge  we  are  to  be  shut  up  in  the  cities  this  winter. 
My  brethren  seem  unwilling  to  leave  the  cities,  but  I 
think  I  shall  show  them  the  way.  I  ara  in  trouble,  and 
more  trouble  is  at  hand,  for  I  am  determined  to  make  a 
stand  against  all  partiality.  I  have  nothing  to  seek  but 
the  glory  of  God  ;  nothing  to  fear  but  his  displeasure.  I 
am  come  over  with  an  upright  intention,  and  through  the 
grace  of  God  I  will  make  it  appear ;  and  I  am  determined 
that  no  man  shall  bias  me  with  soft  words  and  fair 
speeches ;  nor  will  I  ever  fear  (the  Lord  helping  rae)  the 
face  of  man,  or  know  any  man  after  the  flesh  if  I  beg 
my  bread  from  door  to  door;  but  whomsoever  I  please 
or  displease  I  will  be  faithful  to  God,  to  the  people,  and 
to  my  own  soul." 

It  was  soon  seen  that  he  was  not  to  be  shaken  in  his 
purpose.  There  must  be  a  winter  campaign,  and  hence- 
forth, while  he  lived,  no  cantonments,  no  winter-quarters. 
In  a  short  time  he  had  formed  an  extemporary  circuit  in 
the  country  around  the  city,  including  Westchester 
County  and  Staten  Island.  He  hastened  continually 
from  his  head-quarters  in  the  metropolis  to  many  of  the 
neighboring  towns  and  villages,  to  West  Farms,  New 
Rochelle,  where  he  was  entertained  by  Deveau ;  to  Ma- 
raaroneck.  Rye,  East  Chester,  and  many  other  places ; 
preaching  in  court-houses,  private  houses,  occasionally  in 


128  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Churches,  siomctiraes  in  the  open  air.  lie  continued  thus 
to  travel  till  the  latter  part  of  March,  1772,  when  he 
again  passed  over  the  scenes  of  Webb's  labors  in  New 
Jersey,  preachini^  almost  daily  till  he  arrived  in  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  was  refreshed  to  meet  Webb  and  Board- 
man.  The  latter,  as  Superintendent,  sketched  a  plan  of 
labor  for  some  ensuing  months,  Boardinan,  himself,  was 
to  go  eastward  on  his  visit  to  Boston,  Pilmoor  to  Vir- 
ginia, W^ right  to  New  York,  and  Asbury  was  to  stay 
three  months  in  and  about  Philadclphin.  Tie  was  im- 
mediately abroad,  preaching  in  Chester,  Wilmington, 
New  Castle,  and  reached  Bohemia  Manor,  the  late  field 
of  Wright.  Returning  to  Philadeljihin,  he  wrote,  "  I 
hope  that  before  long  about  seven  preachers  of  us  will 
spread  over  seven  or  eight  hundred  miles."  He  was 
quickly  traveling  southward  in  New  Jersey;  back  again 
to  the  city  ;  then  northward  in  New  Jersey,  and  again 
to  the  city.  He  thus  formed  the  Philadelphia  Circuit, 
which  reached  to  Trenton,  N.  J.  The  itineracy  was 
at  last  fairly  initiated.  Boardman  returned  to  him  from 
the  East  with  reports  of  New  England ;  Pilmoor,  on  his 
way  to  Virginia,  wrote  him  a  letter  from  Maryland  "re- 
plete with  account**  of  his  preaching  abroad,  .and  in  the 
Church,  to  large  congregations,  and  the  like." 

In  July,  1772,  Boardman  renewed  his  Plan  of  Appoint- 
ments, taking  charge  himself  of  T'hiladflphia.  with  ex- 
cursions to  Delaware  and  Maryland  ;  sending  Asbnry 
again  to  New  York ;  Wright  to  Maryland,  to  assist 
Strawbridge,  King,  and  Willi.ams  ;  and  Pilmoor  to  Virgin- 
ia. Sucli  are  the  sparse  details  we  can  glean  of  the  early 
itinerancy;  limited  almo.st  to  meager  names  and  dates, 
and  yet  signifying  much.  Asbury  was  evidently  giving 
propulsion  to  the  work.  In  his  unintermitted  excur- 
sions he  was  waking  up  preachers,  societies,  and  the  pop- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         129 

ulation  generally.  He  preached  mostly  in  private  houses, 
sometimes  in  court-houses,  less  frequently  in  churches, 
sometimes  in  the  woods,  at  others  in  prisons,  especially 
where  there  were  culprits  condemned  to  death  ;  and  that 
was  a  day  of  much  hanging.  Sometimes  he  mounted  a 
wagon  at  the  gallows,  impressing  with  awe  the  hardened 
multitude.  At  Burlington,  N.  J.,  he  writes :  "  I 
preached  under  the  jail  wall,  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
prisoner  attended  him  to  the  j^lace  of  execution.  When 
he  came  forth  he  roared  like  a  bull  in  a  net.  He  looked 
on  every  side,  and  shrieked  for  help ;  but  all  in  vain.  O 
how  awful !  Die  he  must — I  fear  unprepared.  I  prayed 
with  him  and  for  him.  I  saw  him  tied  u^) ;  and  then, 
stepping  on  a  wagon,  I  spoke  a  word  in  season,  and 
warned  the  people  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and 
improve  the  day  of  their  gracious  visitation,  no  more 
grieving  the  Spirit  of  God,  lest  a  day  should  come  in 
Avhich  they  may  cry,  and  God  may  refuse  to  hear  them." 
He  frequently  availed  himself  of  such  opportunities, 
sometimes  with  better  resialts.  Attending  an  execution 
at  Chester,  he  says,  "  John  King  went  with  me.  We 
found  the  prisoners  penitent ;  and  two  of  the  four  ob- 
tained peace  with  God,  and  seemed  very  thankful.  I 
preached  with  liberty  to  a  great  number  of  people  under 
the  jaU  wall.  John  King  j^reached  at  the  gallows  to  a 
vast  multitude ;  after  which  I  prayed  with  them." 
Again,  at  Burlington,  he  says  he  attended  the  execution 
of  a  murderer,  and  declared  to  a  great  number  of  people 
under  the  jail  wall,  "He  healeth  the  broken  in  heart." 
"The  poor  criminal  appeared  penitent,  behaved  with 
great  solidity,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  leave  the  world. 
I  then  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  gave  an  exhortation 
that  night."  He  was  immediately  back  again  at  Burling, 
ton,  "  and  spent  three  days  laboring  among  them.  Many 
A-9 


130  HISTORY    OF    THE 

seemed  much  stirred  up  to  seek  tlie  kingdom  of  God." 
'Hi us  was  he  "instant  in  season  and  out  of  season." 
Ilis  sennons  were  now,  frequently,  two  or  three  a  day; 
yet  he  exclaims,  "  How  is  my  soul  troubled  tliat  I  am 
not  more  devoted  !  O  my  God,  my  soul  groans  and  longs 
for  this!"  "My  way  is  to  go  straight  forward!"  "Hith- 
erto the  Lnni  hath  helped  me!"  "  I  want  to  breathe  after 
the  Lord  in  every  breath."  "  I  preached  with  life,  and 
long  to  be  as  an  ever-rising  flame  of  fire!"  "My  soul 
was  lively,  and  my  heart  filled  ^\ith  holy  thoughts  of 
God  !  I  felt  a  strong  and  pure  desire  to  ])r:jy  and  mourn 
and  long  for  God  !"  Such  are  the  ejaculations  that  al- 
most continually  break  from  his  ardent  soul  in  these  un- 
ceasing labors.  His  remarkable  subsequent  career,  the 
"giants  of  those  days"  who  rose  up  in  all  parts  of  theitiner 
ant  field,  the  great  outspread  of  Methodism  over  the  con- 
tinent, have  much  of  their  explanation  in  these  early 
indications  of  the  great  man  who  had  thus  suddenly  ap- 
peared in  the  arena.  I  have  therefore  deemi'tl  it  iiroj)er 
to  introduce  him  to  the  reader  as  completely  as  the  ])au- 
city  of  the  cotemporary  records  will  admit.  It  was  im- 
possible that  he  should  not  be  quickly  recognized  by  the 
multiplying  Si>cietii's  as  their  providential  leader.  A  his- 
torian of  Methodism  says :  "  The  consequence  of  thus  ex- 
t ending  his  labors  into  the  country  towns  and  villages 
was  the  gixinga  new  an«l  more  vigorous  imjiulse  to  relig- 
ious zeal,  and  of  calling  the  attention  of  multitudes  to  the 
Gospel  mciisage  who  otherwise  might  never  have  heard 
it.  This  example  of  Asbury  had  its  effect  upon  the 
other  Preachers,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  .some 
of  them  visited  the  ))rovinces  of 'Delaware  and  Maryland, 
and  preached  on  tlie  Western  and  Plastern  Shore  of  Mary- 
land. Two  private  members  of  the  Society  raised  up  by 
Slrawbridge,  were  the  first  Methodists  who  visited  Kent 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        131 

County,  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  They  came 
to  one  John  Randal's,  conversed  and  prayed  with  the 
family,  and  left  behind  them  some  salutary  impressions. 
This  created  a  desire  for  Methodist  preaching;  and 
ehoi'tly  after  Strawbridge  himself  paid  them  a  visit,  and 
preached  to  them  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Robert  Williams ;  and  in  December  following, 
1772,  Asbury  went  into  Kent  County.  Through  the 
persevering  labors  of  Asbury,  and  others  associated  with 
him,  a  gracious  work  was  commenced  on  this  peninsula, 
which  has  resulted  in  great  good  to  the  souls  of  thou- 
sands."" 

It  was  under  the  impialse  of  Asbury's  example  that 
Robert  Williams  now  went  to  Virginia  and  preached  on 
the  steps  of  the  Norfolk  CourtrHouse,  and  that  Pilmoor 
went  preaching  southward  as  far  as  Savannah. 

In  the  autumn  of  17*72  Asbury  was  again  laboring  in 
and  all  around  New  York.  He  there  received  a  letter 
from  Wesley  appointing  him  "Assistant"  or  Superintend- 
ent of  the  American  Societies,  though  he  was  yet  but 
about  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  thus  took  charge 
of  all  the  churches  and  the  appointments  of  the  Preachers, 
subject  to  the  authority  of  Wesley. 

He  now  turned  southward,  scattering  the  good  seed 
as  he  went,  and  inspiriting  the  Societies  and  Preachers. 
He  preached  almost  daily,  sometimes  as  early  as  five 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  At  Princeton  he  met  Boardman, 
reduced  from  an  "Assistant"  to  a  "  Plelper,"^*  but,  writes 
Asbury,  "  we  both  agreed  in  judgment  about  the  affairs 
of  the  Society,  and  were  comforted  together."  He  passes 
on  rapidly  through  Philadelphia  and  Delaware,  and  in 

>3  Bangs,  i,  71. 

'■*  Wesley's  ordinary  Circuit  Preachers  in  England  were  called  his 
"Helpers,"  the  Superintendents  of  Circuits  were  called  his  "Assist- 
ants." 


132  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Maryland  finds  the  cause  spreading  in  all  directions. 
He  reaches  the  liouse  of  Henry  Watters,  "  whose  brother 
is  an  exhorter,  and  now  gone  with  Mr.  Williams  to  Vir- 
ginia. The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  these  people, 
notwithstanding  the  weakness  of  the  instruments,  and 
some  little  irregularities.  Men  who  neither  feared  God 
nor  regarded  man — swearers,  liars,  cock-fighters,  card- 
players,  horse-racers,  drunkards,  etc. — are  now  so  changed 
as  to  become  new  men ;  and  they  are  filled  with  the 
praises  of  God.  Xot  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us ;  but 
unto  thy  name  be  all  the  glory !" 

Young  Watters  we  shall  soon  meet,  and  find  him  sus- 
taining worthily  his  distinction  as  the  first  native  Method- 
ist itinerant  of  America.  Asbury  preached  at  the  house 
of  "  friend  Gatch,"  another  name  which  was  to  become 
conspicuous  in  the  early  history  of  the  Church.  We  trace 
him  further  to  the  home  of  Kichard  Owen,  the  first  na- 
tive Local  Preacher,  "where  the  Lord  enabled"  him  "to 
preach  with  much  feeling  to  a  great  number  of  people ;" 
to  "friend  Durbin's,"  another  j)riniitive  ministerial  name; 
to  the  Sam's  Creek  ' Log  Meeting-house"  of  Strawbridge. 
He  entered  Baltimore  and  preached  there,  but  was  soon 
away  again,  hastening  from  town  to  town. 

In  December,  having  "gone  round  that  part  of  his  cir- 
cuit which  lay  on  the  Western  Shore,  he  crossed,  in  com- 
pany with  John  King,  the  Susquehanna,  to  visit  that 
part  of  it  which  lay  on  the  Peninsula,  between  Chester 
River  and  Wilnimgton.  His  circuit,  which  lay  in  six 
coimties,  would  be  considered  quite  large  at  this  day."'* 
At  last,  recrossing  the  Susquehanna  River,  he  "  came  to 
his  Quarterly  Conference  at  J.  Presbury's,  in  Christmas 
week,  1772."  There  had  been  no  Annual  Conference  yet 
in  America,  and  this  was  the  first  Quarterly  Conference 
"  Lednum,  p.  85. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       138 

Df  which  we  have  any  account.  Asbury  says,  "Many 
people  attended  and  several  friends  came  miles.  I 
preached  from  Acts  xx,  28 :  '  Take  heed  therefore  unto 
yourselves.'  We  afterward  proceeded  to  our  temporal 
business,  and  considered  the  following  propositions: 
1.  What  are  our  collections?  We  found  them  sufficient 
to  defray  our  expenses.  2.  How  are  the  Preachers  sta- 
tioned? Brother  Strawbridge  and  Brother  Owen  in 
Frederick  county.  Brother  King,  Brother  Webster,  and 
Isaac  Rollins,  on  the  other  side  of  the  bay,  and  myself 
in  Baltimore.  3.  Shall  we  be  strict  in  our  Society  meet- 
ings, and  not  admit  strangers?  Agreed.  4.  Shall  we 
drop  preaching  in  the  day-time  through  the  week  ?  Not 
agreed  to.  5.  Will  the  people  be  contented  without  our 
administering  the  sacrament  ?  John  King  was  neuter ; 
Brother  Strawbridge  pleaded  much  for  the  ordinances ; 
and  so  did  the  people,  who  appeared  to  be  much  biased 
by  him.  I  told  them  I  would  not  agree  to  it  at  that 
time,  and  insisted  on  our  abiding  by  our  rules.  But  Mr. 
Boardman  had  given  them  their  way  at  the  Quarterly 
Meeting,  held  here  before,  and  I  was  obliged  to  connive 
at  some  things  for  the  sake  of  peace.  6.  Shall  we  make 
collections  weekly,  to  pay  the  preachers'  board  and  ex- 
penses? This  was  not  agreed  to.  We  then  inquired 
into  the  moral  characters  of  the  Preachers  and  Exhorters. 
Only  one  Exhorter  was  found  any  way  doubtful,  and  we 
have  great  hopes  of  him.  Brother  Strawbridge  received 
£8  quarterage ;  Brother  King  and  myself  £6  each.  Great 
love  subsisted  among  us  in  this  meeting,  and  we  parted 
in  peace." 

Some  new  names  appear  in  this  brief  record ;  for  by 
this  time  ten  or  twelve  native  Local  Preachers  and  Ex- 
horters had  been  licensed  in  Maryland,  such  as  Richard 
Owen,  William  Watters,  Richard  Webster,  Nathaniel 


134  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Perigaii,  Isaac  Rollins,  Ilczckiah  Bonliain,  Nicliolas  Wat- 
ters,  Sater  Stcj)bc'nson,  J.  Prcsbury,  l*liillii)  Gatch,  and, 
l)robably,  Aquila  Standford  and  Abraham  Rollins." 

Asbury  began  the  new  year,  1773,  at  Baltimore,  as 
his  head-quarters.  On  January  3d  he  writes:  "I  rode 
to  Baltimore,  and  had  a  large  congregation  at  the  house 
of  Captain  Patten,  at  the  Point.  Many  of  the  principal 
I>eople  were  there,  and  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  speak 
with  j)ower.  At  night  I  preached  in  town.  The  house 
was  well  filled,  and  we  have  a  comfortable  hope  the 
work  of  the  Lord  will  revive  in  this  place.  Bless 
the  Lord,  O  ye  saints !  Holiness  is  the  element  of  my 
sold.  My  earnest  prayer  is  that  nothing  contrary  to 
holiness  may  live  in  me."  Still  later  he  writes:  "Many 
country  people  came  to  hear  the  word  of  God  at  the 
Point ;  some  came  twelve  miles  before  those  of  the  town 
had  left  their  houses ;  perhaps  before  some  of  them  had 
letl  their  beds.  I  found  some  life  and  power  in  preach- 
ing, both  at  the  Point  and  in  Baltimore."  He  proceeded 
immediately  to  secure  the  foundations  of  Methodism  in  the 
city,  for  hitherto  the  Methodists  there  had  met  together 
only  as  "  Societies,"  without "  Classes."  A  local  authority 
says :  "  The  happiest  event  which  could  have  occurred  to 
Methodism  in  Baltimore,  as  well  as  to  the  cause  of  religion 
generally,  was  the  arrival  of  Asbury  in  the  fall  of  1772, 
when  he  preached  for  the  first  time,  in  the  morning  at 
the  Point,  and  in  town  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Down  to  this  period 
there  had  been  no  disposition  shown,  on  the  part  of  the 
people,  to  open  their  houses  for  Methodist  preaching,  or 
to  extend  to  the  Preachers  those  hospitalities  which  are 
now  so  characteristic  of  Baltimore.  It  is  true  those 
Preachers  who  had  preceded  Asbury  were  allowed  the 
»» Lednum,  p.  88. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        135 

freedom  of  the  place,  but  it  was  only  to  preach  in  the 
market-house,  or  at  the  corners  of  the  streets,  and  to 
take  lodgings  at  an  inn,  or  retire  to  the  country,  which 
was  their  usual  practice.  But  it  was  far  otherwise  in 
1772:  the  good  seed  which  had  been  sown  by  Straw- 
bridge,  Williams,  and  others,  in  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, had  been  productive ;  while  that  scattered  by  King, 
Pilmoor,  and  Boardman  was  beginning  to  spring  up  in 
Baltimore,  so  that  Asbury  found  a  people  prepared  to  his 
hands.  Captain  Patten,  a  friendly  Irishman  on  the  Point, 
was  the  first  to  offer  his  house  for  preaching,  and  soon 
after  William  Moore,  in  town,  at  the  south-east  corner 
of  Water  and  South  streets,  and  also  Mrs.  Triplett,  a 
pious  lady  of  the  German  Reformed  Church,  opened  her 
three-story  brick  dwelling,  corner  of  Baltimore-street 
and  Triplett's  Alley.  These  were  filled  with  attentive 
hearers,  that  on  the  Point  taking  the  lead.  In  a  short 
time  the  place  was  found  insufficient  to  accommodate  the 
people  who  were  anxious  to  receive  the  bread  of  life. 
A  sail-loft,  at  the  corner  of  Mills  and  Block  streets,  was 
provided  free  of  charge,  and  was  soon  filled  to  over- 
flowing, many  coming  from  the  country  a  distance  of  six 
miles,  before  some  of  the  people  of  the  town  had  risen 
from  their  beds.  Something  like  a  permanent  arrange- 
ment being  made  for  perpetuating  Methodism  in  Balti- 
more, Asbury  set  about  in  good  earnest  to  regulate  the 
Societies  by  settling^  as  he  says,  the  classes,  and  thereby 
giving  to  Methodism  that  form  and  consistency  which  it 
had  in  England ;  and  no  man  knew  better  how  to  do  this 
than  he  did.  He  had  received  a  good  training  under  the 
eye  of  Wesley,  heartily  sympathized  with  him  in  all  his 
views  in  raising  up  a  spiritual  people,  nor  was  he  inferior 
to  him  in  zeal,  activity,  and  perseverance.  Hitherto  the 
Methodists  in  Baltimore  had  no  responsible  head,  but 


■n 


186  HISTORY    OF    THE 

met  together  lor  prayer  and  mutual  uistruction  without 
reference  to  numbers  or  time;  having  no  one  in  i»articular 
to  lead  their  devotions,  and  to  give  advice  or  reproof 
when  needed,  Aslniry  wanted  order  and  certainty ;  and 
he  knew  full  well  that  nothing  could  secure  these  but 
Methodist  rule.  Hence  on  the  .3d  of  January,  1773,  he 
says,  after  meeting  the  Society,  'I  settled  a  class  of 
men,'  and  on  the  following  evening,  after  preaching  with 
comfort,  '  I  formed  a  class  of  women.'  lie  found  it  dif- 
ficult at  first  to  procure  a  suitable  leader  for  the  men,  but 
not  so  for  the  women,  and  being  partial  to  the  Wesleyan 
plan  in  England,  he  ap]>ointed  one  of  their  own  number 
over  them  as  leader.  The  formation  of  these  two  classes, 
and  the  addition  of  others  soon  after,  together  with  the 
difticulty  of  finding  room  for  tliose  who  were  willing  to 
hear  the  word  of  God  preached,  made  it  necessary  to 
provide  other  than  mere  private  accommodation ;  and, 
accordingly,  in  November  following,  Asbury,  assisted 
by  Jesse  IloUuigsworth,  George  Wells,  Richard  Moale, 
George  Robinson,  and  John  Woodward,  purchased  the 
lot,  sixty  feet  on  Strawberry  Alley,  and  seventy-five  feet 
on  Fleet-street,  for  a  house  of  worship,  where  tlie  church 
now  stands — the  only  original  edifice  of  the  kind,  of  re- 
iJLrious  denomination,  in  Baltimore,  The  following  year 
William  Moore  and  Philip  Rogers'^  took  up  two  lots,  and 
erected  a  church  in  Lovely  Lane;  Moore  collecting  £100 
to  assist  in  paying  for  it.  Which  of  these  two  churches 
was  first  finished  is  not  quite  certain ;  tradition  says  the 
latter.  The  one  in  Strawberry  Alley  was  commenced  in 
November,  1773;  that  in  Lovely  Lane  the  18th  of 
April,  1774.  Asbury,  speaking  of  the  latter,  remarks, 
*This  day  the  foundation  of  our  house  in  Baltimore  was 
liud.  Who  could  have  expected  that  two  men,  one 
•>  Both  converted  by  Asbury's  miuistry. 


r^- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCIT.        187 

among  the  chief  of  sinners,  would  ever  have  thus  engaged 
in  so  great  an  undertaking  for  the  caitse  of  the  blessed 
Jesus  ?  This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in 
our  eyes.  He  hath  moved  tliem  to  this  acceptable  under- 
taking; and  he  will  surely  complete  it,  and  raise  up  a 
people  to  serve  him  in  this  place !'  Captain  "Webb,  in 
writing  to  Asbury,  then  in  New  York,  said  that  the 
church  in  Lovely  Lane  was  so  far  finished  by  the  middle 
of  October  that  he  preached  in  it."^^ 

The  first  Methodist  chapel  in  Baltimore,  that  of  Straw- 
berry Alley,  was  on  Fell's  Point,  where  the  hospitable 
Irishman,  Captain  Patten,  had  been  the  first  citizen  to 
open  his  house  for  the  preaching  of  Asbury ;  thereby 
adding  another  instance  to  the  extraordinary  services  of 
his  countrymen  in  the  early  history  of  the  denomination. 
It  was  built  of  brick,  forty-one  feet  and  six  inches  in 
length  and  thirty  feet  in  width,  with  a  foundation  of 
twenty  inches.  Its  original  entrance  was  at  the  south 
side,  on  Fleet-street ;  the  gallery  was  at  the  north  side, 
opposite  the  main  entrance,  and  was  for  the  use  of  the 
colored  people.  The  pulpit  was  in  the  old  style,  tub 
fashion,  and  very  high  ;  while  over  the  Preacher's  head 
hung,  suspended  by  a  cord,  the  inevitable  sounding- 
board.  Back  of  the  pulpit  there  was  a  semicircle  of  blue 
ground,  on  which  was  emblazoned  in  large  gilt  letters 
the  motto,  "  Thou,  God,  seest  me."  It  was  built  mainly 
through  the  untiring  efforts  of  Asbury,  who  laid  the 
foundation-stone,  and  was  the  first  to  offer  the  Gospel  to 
the  people  from  its  pulpit.  In  1801,  when  the  Milk- 
street  Church  was  built,  the  Strawberry  Alley  Church 
was  given  to  the  colored  people,  for  their  exclusive  use 
and  benefit.^" 

>»  Eev.  Dr.  Hamilton,  in  Meth.  Quart.  Eev.,  1856,  p.  440. 
*°  Letter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hamilton  to  the  author. 


188  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Such  was  the  beginning  of  that  series  of  Methodist 
chapels  in  Baltimore,  which  has  since  increased  so  rapid- 
ly, that,  in  our  day,  they  are  more  than  double  the  num- 
ber of  those  of  any  other  communion,  Protestant  or  Papal, 
in  the  city,  and  nearly  a  third  of  all  its  churches,  though 
it  has  a  larger  supply  of  such  edifices,  in  proportion  to 
its  papulation,  than  any  other  city  on  the  continent. 

Asbury  continued,  says  the  historian  of  Methodism,  his 
itinerant  labors  "  very  extensively  through  the  country, 
devoting  all  his  time  and  attention  to  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  Nor  did  he  labor  in  vain.  Many  sinners  were 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  new  Socie- 
ties were  established  in  various  places."*' 

His  circuit,  projecting  from  Baltimore,  extended  about 
two  hundred  miles ;  he  traveled  over  it  every  three 
weeks :"  it  comprised  about  twenty-four  aj •[•ointments. 
He  moved  among  them  continually,  assisted  by  King, 
Strawbridge,  Owen,  and  other  preachers  and  exhorters. 
On  March  29,  1773,  he  writes,  "I  rode  twenty  miles  to 
Susquehanna,  and  just  got  in,  almost  spent,  time  enough 
to  preach  at  three  o'clock.  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath 
helped  me.  Praised  forever  be  his  dear  and  blessed  name ! 
Tuesday  .TO.  Our  quarterly  meeting  began.  After  I  had 
preached  we  proceeded  to  business ;  and  in  our  little 
Conference  the  following  queries  were  propounded, 
namely:  1.  Are  there  no  disorderly  persons  in  our 
classes  ?  It  was  thought  not.  2.  Does  not  dram-driuk- 
ing  too  much  prevail  among  our  people  ?  3.  Do  none 
contract  debts  without  due  care  to  ])ay  them?  We 
found  that  this  evil  is  much  avoided  among  our  people. 
4.  Are.  the  band-meetings  kept  up  ?  5.  Is  there  nothmg 
immoral  in  any  of  our  preachers  ?     6.  What  preachers 

»»  Bangs,  i,  77. 

"  Rev.  Dr.  Coggeshall's  MS.  Life  of  Asbury. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         139 

travel  now  ?  and  where  are  they  stationed  ?  It  was 
then  urged  that  none  must  break  our  rules,  under  the 
penalty  of  being  excluded  fi-om  our  connection.  All  was 
settled  in  the  most  amicable  manner."  Besides  Straw- 
bridge  and  Owen,  King,  Webster,  Rollins,  and  "the 
whole  body  of  exhorters  and  official  members  were 
present."  Methodism  had  now  taken  deep  root  in 
Maryland,  and  quarterly  meetings  were  becoming  jubi- 
latic  occasions,  attended  by  great  crowds  and  extraor- 
dinary religious  interest.  The  highways  were  thi'onged 
with  carriages,  and  the  proverbial  hospitality  of  the 
Province  was  lavished  upon  the  numerous  attendants. 
Strawbridge  and  Asbury  preached  on  this  occasion,  the 
former  "  a  good  and  useful  sermon,"  says  Asbury,  on  Joel 
ii,  1 7,  "  Let  the  priests,  the  ministers  of  the  Lord,  weep 
between  the  porch  and  the  altar."  "  Many  people  were 
present  at  the  love-feast,  among  whom  were  some  stran- 
gers. All  were  deeply  serious,  and  the  power  of  God 
was  present  indeed."  Owen  preached  a  "very  alarm- 
ing sermon,"  and  Strawbridge  followed  him  with  "a 
moving  exhortation."  "The  whole  ended  in  great 
peace,"  adds  Asbury,  "  and  we  all  went  in  the  strength 
of  the  Lord  to  our  several  appointments." 

He  soon  after  departed  to  the  North  as  far  as  New 
York,  preaching  along  the  whole  route.  He  had  received 
letters  which  occasioned  him  no  little  anxiety.  The 
good  men  who  were  associated  with  him  in  the  itiner- 
ancy had  their  infirmities;  they  were  hardly  competent 
to  estimate  his  greatness  of  soul  and  the  magnitude  of  his 
plans  ;  and  they  demurred  at  his  extreme,  his  almost  mili- 
tary discipline.  Wright  had  shown  no  little  dissatisfaction. 
Pilmoor  had  written  to  him  in  severest  terms.  "  Trouble 
IS  at  hand,"  writes  Asbury,  "  but  I  cannot  fear  while  my 
heart  is  upright  with  God.     I  seek  nothing  but  him, 


1-iO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  fear  nothing  but  his  dis|»lca.sure."  He  had  corre- 
pponded  with  Wesley  respecting  the  state  of  the  Socie- 
ties and  the  necessity  of  more  thorough  discipline  and 
increased  laborers.  It  was  obvious  that  a  new  adminis- 
tration, uncompromised  by  any  American  antecedents, 
had  become  expedient.  Asbury  urged  Wesley  to  come 
over  himself,  but  he  could  not.  He  determined,  how- 
ever, to  send  a  man  of  rigorous  disciplinary  habits  as 
assistant  or  superintendent.  Asbury  was  to  be  relieved 
of  that  responsibility,  but  only  temporarily.  He  was 
destined  soon  to  attain  a  supreme  and  permanent  author- 
ity, which  should  enable  him  to  fashion  the  whole  Ameri- 
can denomination  according  to  his  own  gigantic  views. 

Meanwhile  Captain  Webb  had  gone  to  England  to 
aj)peal  again  to  ^Vosley  for  help,  and  was  now  returning 
on  the  ocean  with  his  recruits. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        141 


CHAPTER  YI. 

WESLEY'S    AMERICAN    MISSIONARIES. 

Captain  Webb  Eecruiting  the  American  Itinerancy  —  Charies  Wesley 
Opposes  him  —  Webb  Appeals  to  the  Conference  —  Thomas  Eankin 
and  George  Shadford  —  Rankin's  Early  Life  —  Methodism  iri  the 
British  Army— Whitefleld  —  Rankin's  Conversion  —  He  becomes  a 
Preacher  — His  Success- His  Appointment  to  America  —  George 
Shadford's  Early  Life  —  His  Conversion  —  His  Usefulness  —  He  joins 
Wesley's  Itinerancy  —  Hears  Captain  Webb's  Appeal  at  Leeds,  and 
Departs  for  America  — Wesley's  Letter  to  him — Scenes  of  the  Voy- 
age—Arrival at  Philadelphia— Rankin's  Invocation  —  Rankin  and 
Asbury  in  New  York  — Rankin  in  John-street  Church —  Shadford  in 
New  Jersey. 

The  veteran  Captain  Webb  having  labored  about  six 
years,  the  principal  founder  of  Methodism  from  New 
York  to  Baltimore,  returned  again  to  England  in  1772 
to  appeal  to  Wesley  and  his  Conference  for  more  mis- 
sionaries. Wesley  this  year  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Ireland, 
"  Captain  Webb  is  now  in  Dublin :  invite  him  to  Limer- 
ick. He  is  a  man  of  fire,  and  the  power  of  God  con- 
stantly attends  his  word."  It  was  in  the  same  year  also 
that  Wesley  heard  him  with  "  admiration "  in  the  Old 
Foundry,  London.  "  He  was  all  life  and  fire."  He 
was  the  right  man  to  appeal  to  British  Methodism  for 
America,  for  he  could  tell  his  own  story  about  it,  and 
his  military  ardor  gave  a  singular  inspiration  to  his 
words.  He  made  vast  calculations  for  American  Method- 
ism, and  the  timid  Charles  Wesley  gazed  at  him  with 
suri^rise,  pronouncing  him  fanatical ;  but  it  was  next  to 
impossible  to  exaggerate  the  moral  and  social  prospects 


1  12  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  the  new  world.  lie  demanded  two  of  the  ablest  men 
of  the  British  Conference,  Christopher  Hopper  and 
Joseph  Benson.  Charles  WesU-y  oj>posed  the  claim ; 
but  the  zealous  captain  was  not  to  be  altogether  defeated, 
lie  went  to  the  Conference,  which  began  on  August 
4,  1772,  at  Leeds,  a  city  which  was  thus  again  to  be  dis- 
tinguished in  the  missionary  annals  of  the  denomination. 
He  there  addressed  the  preachers  with  an  eloquence  that 
kintlled  the  assembly  into  enthusiasm.  George  Sliadford 
luard  him,  and  says,  "I  went  to  the  Leeds  Conference, 
where  I  first  saw  Captain  Webb.  When  he  warmly 
exhorted  preachers  to  go  to  America  I  felt  my  spirit 
stirred  within  me  to  go;  more  especially  when  I  under- 
stood that  many  hundreds  of  precious  souls  were  perish- 
ing through  lack  of  knowledge,  scattered  up  and  down 
in  various  parts  of  the  coimtry,  and  had  none  to  warn 
ihem  of  their  danger.  When  I  considered  that  we  had 
in  England  many  men  of  grace  and  gifts  far  superior  to 
mine,  but  few  seemed  to  offer  themselves  willingly,  I 
saw  my  call  the  more  clearly.  Accordingly  Mr. 
Kankin  and  I  offered  ourselves  to  go  the  spruig  fol- 
lowing.'" 

Thomas  Uaukin  was  one  of  the  commanding  men  of 
tlie  Wesleyan  ministry.  Wesley  appointed  him  at  once 
General  Assistant  or  Superintendent  of  the  American 
Societies,  for  he  was  not  only  Asbury's  senior  in  the 
itinerancy,  but  was  an  exjx;rienced  disciplinarian  ;  and 
Wesley  judged  him  competent  to  manage  tlie  dilliculties 
which  had  arisen  umler  tlie  administration  of  Asbury,  as 
represented  in  the  correspondence  of  the  latter.  Asbury 
had  probably  asked  to  be  relievcfl  by  such  a  successor, 
and  welcomed  him  with  sincere  gratiticatiou. 

Kankin,  at  the  instance  of  Wesley,  has  left  us  records 
>  Meth.  Mag.,  London,  1816,  p.  645. 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     C  U  U  K  C  H".        143 

of  his  life,'  wliich  reveal  an  interesting  character.  He 
was  a  clear-headed  and  honest-hearted  Scotchman; 
trained  in  his  infancy  to  strict  religious  habits ;  witli  do- 
mestic catechetical  instruction  by  his  father,  which  was 
accompanied,  however,  with  lessons  in  music  and  dancing 
that  tended,  he  says,  to  "  obliterate  the  good  imjiressions 
that  from  time  to  time  had  affected  my  mind," 
"  But,"  he  adds,  "  I  bless  God  that  I  was  mercifully  pre- 
served from  open  wickedness.  I  do  not  know  that  ever 
I  swore  an  oath  in  my  life ;  indeed,  I  felt  an  entire  ab- 
horrence of  this  vice,  and  I  also  detested  it  in  others." 
When  about  seventeen  years  old  the  death  of  his  up- 
right father  deepened  much  his  interest  in  religion. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  episodes  in  the  history 
of  British  Methodism  was  its  outbreak  in  1745,  under  the 
laboi-s  of  John  Haime,  in  the  army  in  Flanders ;  achiev- 
ing, in  camps  and  on  battle-fields,  the  moral  miracles 
which  it  had  effected  among  the  miners  of  Cornwall, 
Kingswood,  and  Newcastle,  and  raising  up  Societies  and 
preachers,  some  of  whom  afterward  became  eminent  in 
the  itinerant  ministry.'  The  converted  troops,  returning 
to  England,  laid  in  several  places  the  foundations  of 
Churches.  They  formed  a  Society  in  Dunbar,  Scotland, 
and  there  Thomas  Rankin  first  learned  the  peculiar  doc- 
trines of  the  denomination.  Methodist  itinerants  soon 
reached  the  town ;  he  revolted  at  their  urgent  preaching, 
but  could  not  escape  the  convictions  of  the  truths  he 
learned  from  them.  Whitefield,  flying  over  the  realm, 
came  across  his  path  at  Edinburgh.  "  T  heard  him,"  he 
writes,  "  with  wonder  and  surprise,  and  had  such  a  dis- 

'  Wesley  induced  his  most  useful  preachers  to  write  autobiographiea 
for  liis  Arminian  Magazine.  Eankin's  is  given  in  1779.  He  afterward 
enlarged  it.  See  Jackson's  "  Lives  of  Early  Methodist  Preachers,"  voL 
iii.    London,  1838. 

'■=  See  Hist,  of  the  Rel.  Movement,  etc.,  i,  229, 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE 

covery  of  the  plan  of  salvation  as  I  had  never  known 
before.  I  remembered  more  of  that  sermon  than  of  all 
the  sermons  I  ever  had  heard.  From  this  time  I  was 
truly  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart.  I 
now  sought  the  knowledge  of  salvation  with  my  whole 
heart.  I  most  sincerely  desired  to  devote  my  soul  and 
body  to  the  glory  of  God  ;  when  I  was,  all  on  a  sudden, 
left  in  darkness.  I  began  to  examine  myself,  if  I  had 
given  way  to  any  known  sin  or  neglected  any  known 
duty.  So  far  as  I  had  light  to  discern,  I  knew  not  that 
I  had  done  anything  to  cause  the  amazing  change  I 
now  e.xperienced.  What  to  do,  or  where  to  go,  I  could 
not  tell.  I  thought,  'The  way  of  duty  is  the  way  of 
safety,  an<l  here  will  I  hold.'  Whether  from  pride  or 
prudence  I  cannot  say,  but  I  remained  silent,  and  my 
sufferings  were  not  small.  The  Lord  knew  that  it  was 
not  a  little  that  would  break  a  headstrong  will  and  bow 
a  high,  proud  spirit,  and  therefore  I  had  cup  after  cup 
given  me  to  drink,  in  order  to  embitter  everything  that 
had  opposed  or  might  oppose  my  salvation  by  grace  alone. 
I  mingled  my  food  with  weeping,  and  my  complaints  with 
groans  that  could  not  be  uttered.  '  I  bless  thee  for  the 
most  severe,  and  let  this  stand  the  foremost,  that  my 
heart  has  bled.' " 

Whitefield  again  meets  him ;  the  "  word  is  precious  to 
him,"  but  his  anxiety  deepens.  "  It  then  was  suggested 
to  me,"  he  continues,  "  '  probably  you  are  not  one  of  the 
elect,  and  you  may  seek  and  seek  in  vain.'  I  tasted  no 
pleasant  food ;  my  sleep  departed  from  me,  and  my  flesh 
wasted  from  my  bones ;  till  at  last  I  sunk  into  despair. 
One  morning,  after  breakfast,  I  arose  and  went  into  the 
garden,  and  sat  down  in  a  retired  place,  to  mourn  over 
my  sad  condition.  I  began  to  wrestle  with  God  in  an 
agony  of  prayer.     I  called  out,  '  Lord,  I  have  wrestled 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        145 

long,  and  have  not  yet  prevailed :  O  let  me  now  prevail !' 
The  whole  passage  of  Jacob's  wrestling  with  the  angel 
came  into  my  mind ;  and  I  called  out  aloud,  '  I  will  not 
let  thee  go,  unless  thou  bless  me !'  In  a  moment  the 
cloud  burst,  and  tears  of  love  flowed  from  my  eyes,  when 
these  words  were  applied  to  my  soul  many  times  over, 
'  And  he  blessed  him  there,'  They  came  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  much  assurance ;  and  my  whole  soul  was 
overwhelmed  in  the  presence  of  God.  I  could  declare 
that  the  Son  of  man  still  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive 
sins,  and  that  he  had  pardoned  my  sins,  even  mine.  How 
many  times  before,  under  the  most  painful  distress  of 
mind,  I  had  wished  I  had  never  been  born !  But  now 
I  could  bless  God  that  I  ever  had  a  being,  and  fully  be- 
lieved that  I  should  live  with  God  while  eternal  ages  roll. 
Soon  after,  I  was  sent  for  by  a  lady,  who,  observing  that 
I  had  been  in  tears,  inquired  what  was  the  matter.  I 
told  her  they  were  not  tears  of  sorrow,  they  were  tears 
of  joy ;  and  then  related  to  her  what  the  Lord  had  done 
for  my  soul.  She  burst  into  tears  herself,  and  told  me 
she  had  been  seeking  that  great  blessing  for  years,  but 
had  not  found  it.  She  was  so  deeply  affected  with  what 
I  told  her,  and  by  the  power  that  attended  the  word, 
that  it  was  some  time  before  she  could  inform  me  of  the 
business  she  wished  to  consult  me  upon.  I  have  reason 
to  believe  it  was  made  an  eternal  blessing  to  her  soul." 

Such  was  the  usual,  it  may  almost  be  said  the  uni- 
form, spiritual  history  of  Methodist  Preachers,  and  it  is 
the  true  explanation  of  their  extraordinary  ministerial 
history. 

He  was  now  living  in  Edinburgh ;  there  were  no  Meth- 
odists there,  but  some  of  John  Haime's  dragoons  were  in 
garrison  at  Musselborough,  six  miles  distant ;  they  had 
formed  a  Society  among  the  townsmen,  and  Rankin  went 
A— 10 


14')  HISTORY     OF     THE 

thither,  for  he  had  in  fine  become  a  ISIethodist.  lie 
heard  Wesley,  and  Alexander  Mather  dC  notable  mem- 
ory ;  his  heart  cleaved  to  the  latter.  *'  I  never  saw,"  he 
says,  '*  any  one  before  that  appeared  so  dead  to  all  below, 
and  so  much  alive  to  God,  as  also  so  deeply  engaged  in 
his  work.  I  embraced  every  opportunity  of  his  com- 
pany ami  conv»'rs:iti(»n.  I  was  with  him  at  Mussclbo- 
rough,  and  stood  V)efore  him  when  he  preached  out 
of  doors,  and  he  le:uied  on  my  shoulders,  which  I 
thought  a  very  great  honor,  although  I  did  not  ad- 
mire the  appearance  of  some  who  were  preparing  to 
throw  dirt  at  him.  I  had  not  learne(l  then  what  it 
was  to  go  through  showers  of  dirt,  stones,  and  rot- 
t«'n  eggs,  which  I  experienced  several  years  afterward." 
Another  notable  ilitu-rant  of  that  <lay  induced  him  to 
exhort  in  public.  Soon  after,  he  records  remarkable 
exercises  of  mind,  inward  conflicts,  alternations  of  joy 
and  sorrow.  "  I  had  such  a  discovery  of  the  dreadful 
state  of  all  the  human  race,  (who  were  without  God, 
and  without  hope  in  the  world,)  that  my  knees  smote 
together,  and  every  joint  trembled,  while  these  words 
sounded  in  my  ears,  '  Whom  shall  I  sen<l  ?  whom  shall 
I  send  ?'  My  heart  replied,  '  Lord,  if  I  can  be  of  any 
use,  to  pluck  one  of  these  from  the  jaws  of  ruin,  here  I 
am,  send  me.'  At  that  moment  I  felt  such  love  for  the 
souls  of  my  fellow-creatures  as  I  never  had  done  since  I 
knew  the  pardoning  love  of  God."  "  Such,"  he  adds, 
"  were  my  feelings  that  I  thought  I  could  lay  down  my 
life  if  I  might  but  be  instrumental  in  saving  one  soul 
from  everlasting  ruin." 

It  was  not  long  before  he  was  laboring  as  a  local 
preacher.  Wesley  called  him  into  the  itinerancy  in  1761, 
and  sent  him  to  the  Sussex  Circuit.  Remarkable  success 
utii'iidcd  Ills  preaching  all  arotmd  it.     A  Curate  of  the 


.J 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       147 

Establishmeut  was  one  of  his  converts,  and  became  "  a 
burning  and  a  shining  light,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Wes- 
ley, till  called  to  his  eternal  reward."  The  next  year  he 
spent,  with  John  Nelson,  on  Devonshire  Circuit ;  he 
could  not  have  been  placed  under  better  training.  It 
was  soon  evident  that  he  had  become  one  of  the  most 
indefatigable  and  most  successful  of  Wesley's  itinerants. 
"  Revivals  "  attended  his  preaching  almost  everywhere  ; 
he  governed  skillfully  his  societies ;  he  worked  day  and 
night,  and  encountered  opposition  with  good  Scotch  cour- 
age and  adroitness.  Wesley  had  tried  him  thoroughly 
through  about  ten  years  when  Captain  Webb  appeared 
to  claim  him  for  America.  "I  had  made  it,"  writes 
Rankin,  "  matter  of  much  prayer,  and  it  appeared  to  me 
that  the  way  was  opening  for  me  to  go.  When  the 
work  in  America  came  before  the  Conference,  Mr.  Wes- 
ley determined  to  appoint  me  superintendent  of  the 
whole,  and  I  chose  my  much-esteemed  friend  and 
brother  Shadford  to  accompany  me.  I  had  proved 
his  uprightness,  piety,  and  usefulness  in  several  cii*- 
cuits  where  he  had  labored  with  me,  and  I  knew  I 
could  depend  upon  him.  It  was  settled  that  we  should 
sail  in  the  spring,  and  in  the  mean  time,  that  I  should 
labor  in  the  York  Circuit.  I  went  accordingly,  and  re- 
mained in  those  parts  from  the  Conference  till  about  the 
latter  end  of  March.  During  tbe  time  I  spent  in  this 
Circuit,  I  considered  deeply  and  with  much  prayer  the 
importance  of  the  work  which  lay  before  me.  It  had 
dwelt  upon  my  mind,  more  or  less,  for  some  years ;  and 
the  nearer  the  period  arrived,  the  greater  it  appeared  to 
me.  The  thoughts  of  leaving  Mr.  Wesley,  as  well  as  my 
brethren,  whose  counsel  and  advice  were  always  at 
hand,  and  ready  on  every  trying  occasion,  was  no 
small  exercise  to  ray  mind.     I  was  about  to  bid  adieu 


148  HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  my  relatives,  and  to  one  whom  I  loved  as  my  own 
soiU,  and  who  afterward  was  my  partner  in  life  for 
nineteen  years;  but  the  consideration  of  the  work  of 
God  swallowed  up  every  other  concern.  I  rode  to 
Birmingham  to  receive  my  last  instructions  from  Mr. 
"Wesley.  The  interview  was  pleasing  and  affecting,  as 
well  as  instructive ;  I  hope  to  remember  it  to  my  latest 
breath." 

George  Shadford  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  char- 
acters in  the  autobiographical  sketches  of  Wesley's  old 
Arminiau  Magazine*  lie  tells  his  story  with  an  honest 
directness,  an  Augustinian  contrition  and  frankness,  and, 
withal,  a  naivete  and  dramatic  effectiveness  which  render 
it  irresistibly  entertaining.  It  presents  in  some  respects 
quite  a  contrast  with  that  of  Rankin.  Like  the  latter,  he 
had  a  somewhat  strict  early  religions  training,  but  was 
ebullient  with  the  spirits  of  healthful  childhood,  and, 
having  a  conscience  more  tender  but  less  strong  than 
that  of  Rankin,  he  was  continually  indulging  in  j)rauk8 
of  chihlish  mischief,  and  as  continually  repenting  of  them 
as  guilty  and  perilous  to  his  soul.  He  had  sufficient 
points  of  both  similarity  and  contrast  with  Rankin  to 
account  for  the  fond  partiality  which  le<l  the  latter  to 
prefer  him  as  his  companion  in  the  mission  to  America. 
He  was  altogether  a  loveable  and  admirable  man. 
"  "When  I  was  very  young,"  he  says,  "I  was  uncommonly 
afraid  of  death.  At  about  eight  or  nine  years  of  age, 
being  very  ill  of  a  sore  throat,  and  likely  to  die,  I  was 
awfully  afraid  of  another  world  ;  for  I  felt  my  heart  very 
wicked,  and  my  conscience  smote  me  for  many  things 
that  I  had  done  amiss.  As  I  grew  up  I  was  very  prone 
to  speak  bad  words,  and  often  to  perform  wicked  actions ; 
to  break  the  Sabbath,  and,  being  fond  of  play,  took  every 
«  8ee  his  biography  in  Jackson,  vol.  ilL 


•-^.^ 


^iigra-red-by-AS^^"^'*^ 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        149 

opportunity  on  Sunday  to  steal  away  from  my  father. 
In  the  forenoon,  indeed,  he  always  made  me  go  to  church 
with  him ;  and  when  dinner  was  over,  he  made  me  and 
my  sister  read  a  chapter  or  two  in  the  Bible,  and  charged 
me  not  to  play  in  the  afternoon ;  but,  notwithstanding 
all  he  said,  if  any  person  came  in  to  talk  with  him,  I  took 
that  opportunity  to  steal  away,  and  he  saw  me  not  till 
evening,  when  he  called  me  to  an  account.  My  mother 
insisted  on  my  saying  my  prayers  every  night  and  morn- 
ing, at  least ;  and  sent  me  to  be  catechised  by  the  minis- 
ter every  Sunday.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  my  parents 
sent  me  to  the  bishop  to  be  confirmed,  and  at  sixteen 
they  desired  me  to  prepare  to  receive  the  blessed  sacra- 
ment. For  about  a  month  before  it  I  retired  from  all 
vain  company,  prayed,  and  read  alone,  while  the  Spirit 
of  God  set  home  what  I  read  to  my  heart.  I  wept  much 
in  secret,  was  ashamed  of  my  past  life,  and  thought  I 
would  never  spend  my  time  on  Sundays  as  I  had  done. 
When  I  approached  the  table  of  the  Lord  it  appeared  so 
awful  to  me  that  I  was  likely  to  fall  down  as  if  I  were 
going  to  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ.  However,  very 
soon  my  heart  was  melted  like  wax  before  the  fire.  I 
broke  ofi"  from  all  my  companions,  and  retired  to  read  on 
the  Lord's  day ;  sometimes  into  my  chamber,  at  other 
times  into  the  field  ;  but  very  frequently  into  the  church- 
yard, near  which  my  father  lived.  I  have  spent  among 
the  graves  two  or  three  hours  at  a  time,  sometimes  read- 
ing, and  sometimes  praying,  until  my  mind  seemed  trans- 
ported in  tasting  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come ;  so 
that  I  verily  believe,  had  I  been  acquainted  with  the 
Methodists  at  that  time,  I  should  have  soon  found  remis- 
sion of  sins,  and  peace  with  God.  But  I  had  not  a  single 
companion  that  feared  God.  Nay,  I  believe  at  that  time 
the  whole  town  was  covered  with  darkness,  and  sat  in 


150  II  I  STORY    OF    TH  K 

the  shadow  of  death.  Having  none  to  guide  or  direct 
me,  the  devil  soon  persuaded  me  to  take  more  liberty, 
and  suggested  that  I  had  rej^cnted  and  reformed  enough ; 
that  there  was  no  need  to  be  always  so  precise ;  that 
there  were  no  young  people  in  the  town  who  did  as  I 
did.  I  gave  way  to  this  fatal  device  of  Satan,  and,  by 
little  and  little,  lost  all  my  good  desires  and  resolutions, 
and  soon  became  weak  as  in  times  past.  I  was  fond  of 
wrestling,  running,  lea])ing,  football,  dancing,  and  such 
like  sports ;  and  I  gloried  in  them  because  I  could  excel 
most  in  the  town  and  parish.  At  the  age  of  twenty  I 
was  so  active  that  I  seemed  a  compound  <>f  life  and  fire, 
and  had  such  a  flow  of  animal  spirits  that  I  was 
never  in  my  element  but  when  employed  in  such  kind  of 
sports." 

A  new  Militia  Act  placed  four  of  his  fellow-youth  in 
the  army.  One  of  them  was  "much  afraid  to  go." 
Shadford  liked  soldiering,  and  went  in  his  stead  for  seven 
guineas.  His  father  was  "almost  distracted"  with 
grief;  but  the  tender-hearted  boy,  finding  afterward  his 
parent  in  pecuniary  distress,  gave  him  all  the  money  he 
had  received.  He  was  tossed  about  the  country  in  the 
army,  tempted  by  the  vices  of  his  comrades,  but  escap- 
ing most  of  them,  and  repenting  with  tears  when  over- 
come. "I  well  rcnu'm])er  one  day,"  he  writes,  "when 
being  exceedingly  provoked  by  one  of  my  comrades,  I 
swore  at  him  two  bitter  oaths,  by  the  name  of  God  ;  a 
practice  I  had  not  been  guilty  of.  Immediately  T  was, 
as  it  were,  stabbed  to  the  heart  by  a  sword.  I  was  sen- 
sible I  had  grievously  sinned  against  God,  and  stopped 
directly.  I  believe  I  never  swore  another  oath  after- 
ward." 

At  Gainsborough  he  went  with  a  sergeant  to  hear  a 
Methodist  preach  in  a  hall.     He  was  exceedingly  enter- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        151 

taiued  and  surprised  at  the  services,  and  deeply  smitten 
in  his  conscience  by  the  discourse.  "  I  was  tried,  cast, 
and  condemned,"  he  adds.  "  I  then  made  a  vow  to  Al- 
miglity  God,  that  if  he  would  spare  me  until  that  time 
twelvemonth,  (at  which  time  I  should  be  at  liberty  from 
the  militia,  and  intended  to  return  home,)  I  would  then 
serve  him.  So  I  resolved  to  venture  another  year  in  the 
old  way,  damned  or  saved.  O  what  a  mercy  that  I  am 
not  in  hell !  that  God  did  not  take  me  at  my  word  and 
cut  me  off  immediately  !"  "  In  Kent,"  he  say8»  "  the 
Lord  arrested  me  again  with  strong  convictions,  so  that 
I  was  obliged  to  leave  my  comrades  at  noonday,  and,  run- 
ning up  into  my  chamber,  I  threw  myself  upon  my  knees 
and  wept  bitterly.  I  thought,  'sin,  cursed  sin,  will  be 
my  ruin !'  I  was  ready  to  tear  the  very  hair  from  my 
head,  thinking  I  must  perish  at  last,  and  that  my  sins 
would  sink  me  lower  than  the  grave."  "  Wherever  I 
traveled  I  found  the  Methodists  were  spoken  against  by 
wicked  and  ungodly  persons  of  every  denomination ;  and 
the  more  I  looked  into  the  Bible  the  more  I  was  con- 
vinced that  they  were  the  people  of  God." 

On  his  release  from  the  militia  service  he  returned 
home,  musing  much  about  this  "  sect  everywhere  spoken 
against."  Of  course  he  was  a  favorite  among  his  early 
associates ;  they  welcomed  him  with  delight,  and  got  up 
a  dance  to  express  their  joy.  "  Though  I  was  not  fond 
of  this,"  he  says,  "  yet  to  oblige  them  I  complied,  much 
against  my  conscience.  We  danced  until  break  of  day, 
and  as  I  was  walking  from  the  tavern  to  my  father's 
house  (about  a  hundred  yards)  a  thought  came  to  my 
mind,  '  What  have  I  been  doing  this  night?  serving  the 
devil.'  I  considered  what  it  had  cost  me ;  and  upon  the 
whole,  I  thought,  'The  ways  of  the  devil  are  more  ex- 
pensive than  the  ways  of  the  Lord.     It  will  cost  a  man 


152  HISTORY    or    THE 

more  to  damn  his  soul  than  to  save  it.'  I  had  not 
walked  many  steps  further  before  something  spoke  to 
my  heart,  'Tlemenibcr  tliy  promise.'  Immediately  it 
came  strongly  into  my  mind,  '  It  is  now  a  year  ago  since 
that  promise  was  made.  "  If  thou  wilt  spare  me  until  I 
get  home,  I  will  serve  thee."  '  Then  that  passage  of 
Solomon  came  to  my  mind,  '  When  thou  vowest  a  vow 
unto  God,  defer  not  to  pay  it ;  for  he  hath  no  pleasure 
in  fools:  pay  that  thou  vowest.'  I  thought,  'I  will.  I 
will  serve  the  devil  no  more.'  But  then  it  was  sug- 
gested to  my  Bonl,  '  Stay  another  year,  until  thou  art 
married  and  settled  in  the  world,  and  then  thou  mayest 
be  religious.'  That  was  directly  followed  with,  '  If  I 
do,  God  will  surely  cut  me  off,  and  send  my  soul  to  hell, 
after  so  solemn  a  vow  made.'  From  that  time  I  never 
danced  more,  but  immediately  began  to  seek  happiness 
in  God." 

A  Methodist  farmer  moved  into  the  neighborhood, 
and  opened  liis  house  for  preaching.  Shadford  could 
not  stay  away.  "I  was  now  determined,"  he  says,  "to 
seek  God,  and  therefore  I  went  constantly  to  church 
and  sacrament,  and  to  hear  the  Methodist  preachers,  to 
pray,  and  read  the  Scriptures.  I  thought,  '  I  will  be 
good.  I  am  determined  to  be  good.'  I  read  at  night 
different  prayers.  Sometimes  I  prayed  for  humility  or 
meekness,  at  other  times  for  faith,  patience,  or  chastity; 
whatever  I  thought  I  wanted  most.  I  was  thus  employ- 
ed, when  the  family  were  in  bed,  for  hours  together. 
And  many  times  while  reading  the  tears  ran  from  my 
eyes,  so  that  I  could  read  no  further ;  and  when  I  found 
my  heart  sottened  and  could  open  it  to  Almighty  God, 
there  seemed  a  secret  jdeasure  in  rejientance  itself;  with 
a  hope  springing  up  that  God  would  save  me.  While  I 
was  thus  emjiloyed  in  seeking  the  Lord,  drawn  by  the 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        153 

Spirit  of  God,  I  esteemed  it  more  than  my  necessary 
food." 

"  But,"  he  adds,  "  the  Lord  did  not  suffer  me  to  take 
conviction  for   conversion.     After  those  pleasant  draw- 
ings, I  had  sorrow  and  deep  distress.    My  sins  pressed  me 
sore,  and  the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  very  heavy  upon  me. 
Thus  I  continued  until  Sunday,  May  5,  1762,  coming  out 
of  church,  the  farmer  that  received  the  preachers  told 
me  a  stranger  was  to  preach  at  his  house.     I  went  to 
hear  him,  and  was  pleased  and  much  affected.     He  gave 
notice  that  he  would  preach  again  in  the  evening.     In 
the  mean  time  I  persuaded  as  many  neighbors  as  I  could 
to  go.     We  had  a  full  house,  and  several  were  greatly 
affected  while  he  published  his  crucified  Master.    Toward 
the  latter  part  of  the  sermon  I  trembled,  I  shook,  I  wept. 
I  thought,  '  I  cannot  stand  it ;  I  shall  fall  down  amid  all 
this  people.'     O  how  gladly  would  I  have  been  alone  to 
weep!  for  I  was  tempted  with  shame.     I  stood  guilty 
and  condemned,  like  the  publican  in  the  temple.     I  cried 
out,  (so  that  others  heard,)  being  pierced  to  the  heart 
with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
siimer.'     No  sooner  had  I  expressed  these  words,  but  by 
the  eye  of  faith  (not  with  ray  bodily  eyes)  I  saw  Christ  my 
Advocate,  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  making  intercession 
for  me.     I  believed  he  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for 
me.     In  an  instant  the  Lord  filled  my  soul  with  divine 
love,  as  quick  as  lightning.    Immediately  my  eyes  flowed 
with  tears,  and  my  heart  with  love.     Tears  of  joy  and 
sorrow  ran   down  my  cheeks.     O  what  sweet  distress 
was  this !     I  seemed  as  if  I  could  weep  my  life  away  in 
tears  of  love.     I  sat  down  in  a  chair,  for  I  could  stand 
no    longer,    and    these    words    ran    through    my    mind 
twenty  times  over:  'Marvelous  are  thy  works,  and  that 
my  soul  knoweth  right  well.'     As  I  walked  home  along 


154  HISTORY     or    THE 

the  streets  I  seeraed  to  bo  in  paradise.  "Wlicti  I  read  my 
Bible,  it  seemed  an  entirely  new  book.  When  I  medi- 
tated on  God  and  Christ,  angels  or  spirits;  when  I  con- 
sidered good  or  bad  men,  any  or  all  the  creatures  that 
surrounded  me ;  everything  appeared  new,  and  stood  in 
a  new  relation  to  me.  I  was  in  Christ  a  new  creature ; 
old  things  were  done  away,  and  all  things  then  became 
new.  I  lay  down  at  night  in  peace  with  a  thankful 
heart,  because  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  rae,  and  given 
me  ])eace  with  God  and  all  mankind.  But  no  sooner 
had  I  peace  within  than  the  devil  and  wicke<l  men  began 
to  roar  without,  and  pour  forth  floods  of  lies  and  scandal 
ill  order  to  drown  the  young  child.  And  no  marvel,  for 
the  devil  had  lost  one  of  the  main  pillars  of  his  kingdom 
in  that  parish ;  and  therefore  he  did  not  leave  a  stone 
unturned,  that  he  might  cast  odium  upon  the  work  of 
(Tf)d  in  that  jilace.  But  none  of  these  things  moved  me, 
for  I  was  happy  in  my  God,  clothed,  with  the  sun,  and 
the  moon  under  my  feet ;  raised  up,  and  made  to  sit  in 
heavenly,  holy,  happy  places  in  Christ  Jesus.  In  a  fort- 
night after  I  joined  the  Society." 

Thus  had  George  Shadford  l)ecome  a  ^Methodist,  and 
now  his  filial  heart  turned  toward  his  aged  parents.  lie 
proposed  to  them  family  worship,  and  aftt-r  his  first 
prayer  "they  all  wept  over  one  another."  He  continued 
the  domestic  devotions  for  half  a  year.  "My  father," 
he  writes,  "  at  length  began  to  be  in  deep  distress.  I 
iiave  listened  and  heard  him  in  private  crying  for  mercy, 
like  David  out  of  the  horrible  pit  and  mire  and  clay, 
'  O  Lord,  deliver  my  soul!'  I  began  to  reprove,  and 
warn  others  wherever  I  went.  My  father  was  some- 
times afraid  if  I  reproved  the  customers  who  came  to 
our  shop  it  would  give  offense,  and  wo  should  lose  all 
our  business.     L'pon  which  I  said,  '  Father,  let  us  trust 


I 


r" 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,        155 

God  for  once  with  all  our  concerns,  and  let  us  do  this  in 
the  way  of  our  duty,  from  a  right  principle,  and  if  he 
deceives  us  we  will  never  trust  him  more ;  for  none  that 
ever  trusted  the  Lord  were  confounded.'  In  less  than  a 
twelvemonth,  instead  of  losing,  we  had  more  business 
than  ever  we  had  before.  The  Society  increased  from 
twelve  to  forty  members  in  a  short  time,  for  the  Lord 
o-ave  me  several  of  my  companions  in  sin  to  walk  with 
me  in  the  ways  of  holiness." 

He  was  soon  exhorting  friends,  neighbors,  enemies, 
and  whosoever  came  in  his  way  to  "  flee  from  the  wrath 
to  come."  After  one  of  his  exhortations  he  returned 
home  and  found  his  father  reading  in  the  Psalms  of 
David.  "I  saw,"  he  says,  "the  tears  running  down  his 
cheeks ;  yet  there  appeared  a  joy  in  his  countenance,  I 
said,  'Pray,  father,  what  now?  What  now?  What  is 
the  matter?'  He  instantly  answered,  'I  have  found 
Christ ;  I  have  found  Christ  at  last.  Upward  of  sixty 
years  I  have  lived  without  him  in  the  world  in  sin  and 
ignorance.  I  have  been  all  the  day  idle  and  entered  not 
into  his  vineyard  till  the  eleventh  hour.  O  how  merci- 
ful was  he  to  spare  me,  and  hire  me  at  last !  He  hath 
set  my  soul  at  liberty.  O  praise  the  Lord  !  Praise  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul;  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his 
holy  name!'  I  left  him  rejoicing  in  God  his  Saviour, 
and  retired  to  praise  God  for  answering  my  prayers." 
His  mother  was  quickly  added  to  the  list  of  his  converts, 
then  his  sister ;  four  of  his  family  were  converted  in  less 
than  a  year,  and  the  little  Society  of  the  town  grew  vig- 
orous by  his  humble  labors. 

Shadford  became  a  Local  Preacher.  Wesley  met  him 
and  summoned  him  into  the  itinerant  field.  In  1768  he 
was  sent  into  Cornwall,  the  next  year  to  Kent,  and  the 
next  to  Norwich.     In  1772  he  heard  Webb's  appeal  for 


156  HISTORY    OF    THE 

America  in  the  Leeds  Conference,  and  his  "  spirit  was 
stirred  within  him  to  go."  lie  was  appointed  to  Wilt- 
shire circuit  till  the  ensuing  spring,  when  he  was  to 
embark  with  Rankin.  As  the  time  drew  near  Wesley 
sent  him  a  characteristic  letter,  for  he  loved  the  young 
itinerant  as  a  son.  "  Dear  George,"  he  wrote,  "  the  time 
has  arrived  for  you  to  embark  for  America.  You  must 
<Xo  down  to  Bristol,  where  you  will  meet  with  Thomas 
Itankin,  Captain  Webb,  and  his  wife.  I  let  you  loose, 
(ieorge,  on  the  great  continent  of  America.  Publish 
your  message  in  the  open  face  of  the  sun,  and  do  all  the 
good  you  can.  I  am,  dear  George,  yours  affectionately." 
When  he  reached  the  wharf  where  the  ship  lay  he  was 
reminded  of  a  dream  which  he  had  six  years  before, 
and  in  which  a  written  message  seemed  sent  him  from 
heaven,  requiring  him  "to  go  and  preach  the  Gospel  in 
a  foreign  land."  "I  thought  I  was  conveyed  to  the 
place  where  the  ship  lay,  in  which  1  was  to  embark  in 
an  instant.  The  wharf  and  ship  appeared  as  plain  to  me 
as  if  I  were  awake.  I  replied,  '  Lord,  I  am  willing  to  go 
ill  thy  name,  but  I  am  afraid  a  people  of  different  nations 
and  languages  will  not  understand  me.'  An  answer  to 
this  was  given:  'Fear  not,  for  I  am  with  thee.'  I 
awoke,  awfully  iinpresse<l  with  the  presence  of  God, 
and  was  really  full  of  divine  love ;  and  a  relish  of 
it  remained  upon  ray  spirit  for  many  days.  I  could 
not  toll  what  this  meant,  and  revolved  these  things  in 
my  mind  for  a  long  time.  But  when  I  came  to  Peel, 
and  saw  the  ship  and  wharf,  then  all  came  fresh  to  my 
mind."  lie  now  looked  upon  the  ship  and  the  whole 
scene  before  him  as  the  realization  of  his  vision,  and  took 
courage  for  his  mission. 

Captain  Webb  and  his  wife  were  on  the  deck,  and  had 
made  all  necessary  l)rovisions  for  the  little  band.     On 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        157 

Good  Friday,  April  9,  1V73,  accompanied  by  Joseph 
Yearbry  (another  preacher)  and  other  passengers,  they 
set  sail.  Both  the  missionaries  and  Webb  kept  up  daily 
prayers,  and  preached  often  on  the  voyage  with  much 
effect.  "  The  Lord  was  in  the  midst  of  us,"  writes  Ran- 
kin, "  and  attended  our  meetings  with  power  from  on 
high."  Webb  especially  seemed  to  enjoy  with  zest  these 
devotions,  for  he  could  not  fail  to  feel  that  his  errand 
had  been  successful.  Rankin's  Journal  repeatedly  re- 
cords that  "  Captain  Webb  exhorted,  and  was  attended 
with  the  divine  blessing ;  the  word  seemed  to  lay  hold 
on  some  hearts,  and  they  began  to  show  it  by  their 
tears."  On  the  18th  they  had  a  special  day.  Prayers 
were  read  by  Rankin,  an  exhortation  delivered  by  Webb, 
a  sermon  from  the  quai'ter-deck  by  Shadford;  the  even- 
ing was  spent  in  exhortation,  singing,  and  prayer. 
"  We  were  led  out,"  says  Rankin,  "  in  earnest  j^rayer  for 
our  friends  and  Christian  brethren  in  England,  as  also 
that  God  would  open  a  great  and  an  effectual  door  for 
the  spreading  of  his  Gospel  among  those  to  whom  his 
mercy  and  providence  were  now  sending  us.  Indeed, 
we  felt  the  gracious  influence  of  the  divine  presence  so 
among  us  that  we  could  scarce  conclude.  The  Lord  did 
indeed  open  the  windows  of  heaven,  and  the  skies  poured 
down  righteousness." 

On  the  1st  of  June  they  came  to  anchor  in  the  Dela- 
ware, "  opposite  Chester,  about  sixteen  miles  south  of 
Philadelphia,"  after  a  passage  of  seven  and  a  half  weeks. 
On  the  3d  they  were  cordially  received  by  Asbury  and 
the  Methodists  of  the  city ;  "  and  now,"  wrote  Rankin, 
"  as  I  am  by  the  providence  of  God  called  to  labor  for  a 
season  on  this  continent,  do  thou,  O  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
stand  by  thy  weak  and  ignorant  servant !  Show  thyself 
glorious  in  power  and  in  divine  majesty.     Let  thine  arm 


r 


158  HISTORY    OF    THE 

l>e  made  bare,  luij  stretclioci  out  to  save,  so  that  wonders 
and  signs  may  be  done  in  the  name  of  thy  holy  child 
Jesus." 

Asbury  had  been  anxiously  expecting  them;  "they 
have  arrived,"  he  writes,  "  to  my  great  comfort."  Ran- 
kin preached  that  night  on  an  appropriate  text,  "  I  have 
set  before  thee  an  open  door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it." 
Asbury  wrote,  after  the  discourse,  "He  will  not  be  ad- 
mired as  a  Preacher ;  but  as  a  disciplinarian  he  will  fill 
his  place."  He  probably  changed  his  opinion  t^f  Kankin's 
j)rearhing,  for  on  hearing  him  .again  he  writes  that  he 
"dispensed  the  truth  with  power.  It  reached  the  hearts 
of  many,  and  they  appeared  to  bo  much  quickened." 
Walters,  the  first  native  itinerant,  says  he  "was  not 
only  a  man  of  grace,  but  of  strong  and  quick  parts."' 
f)n  Saturday,  r2th,  accompanied  by  Asbury,  they  reached 
\ew  York  city,  and  were  met  by  many  MetliMdisls  on 
the  dock  wliere  they  landed.  The  next  day  Rankin 
wxs  present  to  hear  Asbury  preach  at  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  at  John-street,  on  a  text  approj>riate  as  a 
salutatory  welcome,  Ruth  ii,  4,  "Behold,  Boaz  came 
from  Bethlehem,  and  said  unto  the  reapers,  The  Lord  be 
with  you.  And  they  answered  him,  The  Lord  bless 
thee."  "During  the  service,"  says  Rankin,  anxious  if 
not  depressed,  "I  was  led  to  reflect  on  the  motives 
whieh  induced  me  to  leave  my  native  land,  and  Christian 
friends  and  brethren,  and  cross  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  to  a 
l;ind  and  people  unknown.  I  could  appeal  to  God  with 
the  utmost  sincerity  of  heart;  I  had  only  one  thing  in 
view,  his  glory,  the  salvation  of  souls,  connected  with  my 
own.  In  a  moment  the  cloud  broke  and  the  power  of 
God  rested  upon  my  soul,  and  all  gloom  fled  away,  as 
morning  shades  before  the  rising  sun.  I  had  then  faith 
»  Wattere's  Life,  p.  35. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         159 

to  believe  that  I  should  see  his  glory  as  I  had  seen  it  in 
the  sanctuary."  Rankin  preached  in  the  evening  and 
afterward  met  the  Society.  "  The  Lord,"  he  says,  "  was 
in  the  midst,  as  a  flame  of  fire  among  dry  stubble. 
Great  was  our  rejoicing  in  the  God  of  our  salvation. 
Blessed  be  God,  sorrow  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy 
cometh  in  the  morning !  This  has  indeed  been  a  day  of 
the  Son  of  man  both  to  my  own  soul  and  the  sou\t>  or 
many  others.  The  praise,  O  Lord,  will  I  ascribe  unto 
thee !"  He  thus  successfully  began  his  career  in  the 
new  world.  Captain  Webb  passed  up  the  Hudson,  and 
Asbury  went  forth  over  his  old  New  York  circuit  ex- 
claiming "  Glory  to  God  !  he  blesses  me  with  the  graces 
and  comforts  of  his  spirit  in  my  soul !" 

Shadford  had  hastened  from  Philadelphia  to  New  Jer- 
sey. He  "  labored  there,"  he  says,  "  with  success  for  a 
month,  adding  thiity-five  to  the  society,  many  of  whom 
were  much  comforted  with  the  presence  of  the  Lord." 

By  the  middle  of  July  the  scattered  itinerants  were 
gathering  at  Philadelphia ;  an  important  event  was  about 
to  occur  there,  the  first  American  Methodist  Conference, 


160  HISTORY    or    THE 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FIRST   CONFERENCE RETURN  OF    ENGLISH 

PREACHERS. 

First  American  Mothodi.-t  Conference  —  Ita  Members  —  Statistics  — 
Laxity  of  Discipline  —  Proceedings  of  the  Conference  —  The  Sncm- 
meutal  Controversj  —  Hobert  Straw  brid)?e  steadfast  to  the  American 
Claim  —  Its  Result  —  Germ  of  the  "  Book  Concern  "  —  Appointments 

—  Return  of  I'ilmoor  and  Boardinan  --  Further  traces  of  Boardman  - 
His  Death  —  Further  tniees  of  I'ilmoor^  He  leaves  the  Denomination 

—  Ketauis  his  Interest  for  it—  Richard  Wright  returns  to  England  — 
Fiiiid  traces  of  <-'Bpt.  Webb  —  Ills  Death. 

The  first  American  Methodist  Conlerence  began  it8  ses- 
Biuii  ill  l*hila<k'l]>lii;i  (jii  Weilnesday  the  14th,  and  dose<l 
on  Friday,  the  Itith  ot"  July,  1773.'  Hankin  says,  "there 
were  present  seven  Preachers,  besides  Boardman  and 
Pilinoor,  who  wero  to  return  to  P^uijland."  Asbury,  de- 
taiuerl  on  his  New  York  Circuit,  did  not  appear  till  the 
second  day  of  the  session ;  he  was  the  tenth  member, 
niakiui;  the  number  the  same  as  at  Wesley's  first  Confer- 
ence in  England,  held  twenty-nine  years  before.  The 
members  of  this  first  American  Conference  wen-  all  Eu- 
ropeans; they  were  Thomas  Rankin,  Richard  Boardman, 
Joseph     Pihnoor,    Francis    Asbury,    Richard    Wright, 

'  Asbnry's  Journals,  1,  p.  ''O.  Compare  Rankin's. loumals,  in  Jackson's 
Early  Methodist  Preachers,  iii,  p.  t;2.  These  references  settle  the  question 
of  the  date  of  this  Conference.  It  is  surprising  how  many  errors  have 
uppeartd  in  our  records  respecting  so  important  an  event.  "  All  agree 
as  to  the  year  1773,  but  in  the  month  and  day  differ.  The  History  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  by  Bangs,  says  July  4;  but  July  4,  1773,  was  Sun- 
day, and  no  Conference  that  I  know  of  ever  began  on  that  day. 
Smith's  History  of  Wcsleyan  Methodism  says  July  4;  Life  of  William 
Walters,  the  first  American  Preacher,  says  June  ;  Wukeley's  Lost  Chap- 
ters, July  l<j.^'— Latter  qf  J.  D.  My<,rs^  of  Philadalp/iia,  to  tin  author. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       161 

George  Shadford,  Thomas  Webb,  John  King,  Abraham 
Whitworth,  and  Joseph  Yearbry*  who  had  accomjDanied 
Rankin  and  Shadford  from  England. 

The  first  reports  of  members  in  Society  were  made  to 
this  Conference:  they  were  180  in  New  York,»  180  in 
Philadelphia,  200  in  New  Jersey,  500  in  Maryland,  100 
in  Virginia;  nearly  half  were  therefore  in  Maryland,  the 
most  fruitful  soil  that  the  denomination  has  foimd  in  the 
country.  The  aggregate  returns  wei'e  1,160.  Rankin 
Avas  disappointed  ;  he  expected  to  find  a  larger  numerical 
strength  in  American  Methodism.  These,  however,  were 
only  its  members  of  classes ;  there  were  many  more  ad- 
herents who  considered  themselves  members  of  its  Socie- 
ties. The  preachers  had  formed  Societies  without  class- 
es ;  the  exact  discipline  of  English  Methodism  had  not, 
in  fact,  been  yet  fully  introduced  into  America.  Asbury 
labored  hard  to  conform  the  American  Societies  to  Wes- 
ley's model,  but  had  met  with  no  little  resistance  from 
both  the  preachers  and  laymen ;  Rankin  had  been  sent  out 
for  this  purpose,  and  to  these  two  thorough  disciplinari- 
ans we  owe  the  effective  organization  of  the  incipient 
Methodism  of  the  new  world.  Without  them  it  seems 
probable  that  it  would  have  adopted  a  settled  pastorate, 
and  become  blended  with  the  Anglican  Church  of  the 
colonies,  or,  like  the  fruits  of  Whitefield's  labors,  been 
absorbed  in  the  general  Protestantism  of  the  country. 
Rankin  complained  at  the  Conference  of  the  prevailing 
laxity  of  discipline.  "  Some,"  he  writes,  "  of  the  above 
number  I  found  afterward  were  not  closely  united  to  us. 
Indeed,  our  discipline  was  not  properly  attended  to,  ex- 
cept at  Philadelphia  and  New  York ;  and  even  in  those 
places  it  was  upon  the  decline.  Nevertheless,  from  the 
accounts  I  heard,  there  was  a  real  foundation  laid  of  doing 
'  Lednum,  p.  111. 

A-11 


162  HISTORY    OF    THE 

much  good,  and  we  hoped  to  see  greater  things  than 
these.  The  Preachers  were  stationed  in  the  best  manner 
we  could,  and  we  parted  in  love,  and  also  with  a  full  res- 
olution to  spread  genuine  Methodism  in  puMic  and  pri- 
vate with  all  our  might." 

The  proceedings  of  the  session  had  direct  reference  to 
the  establishment  of  the  genuine  "Wesleyan  Discipline  as 
the  only  guarantee  of  Methodism  in  the  country.  The 
l>ubli8hed  report  of  these  proceedings  forms  but  one  page 
of  those  annual  "  Minutes,"  which  have  swollen,  by  our 
day,  into  ten  stout  octavo  volumes.  It  consists  of  the 
following  questions,  answers,  and  appointments,  besides 
the  returns  of  members  already  cited. 

"  Tlie  following  queries  were  proposed  to  every 
Preacher: 

"  1.  Ought  not  the  aTithority  of  Mr.  WesU-y  ami  that 
Confereiue  to  extend  to  the  Preachers  and  people  in 
.\mericA  as  well  as  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland?     Yes. 

"  2.  Ought  not  the  doctrine  and  Discipline  of  the  Meth- 
odists, as  conUiined  in  the  Minutes,  to  be  the  sole  rule  of 
our  conduct,  who  labor  in  the  connection  with  ^Ir.  Wes- 
ley in  America?     Yes. 

"  ;?.  If  so,  does  it  not  follow  that  if  any  Preachers  devi- 
ate from  the  Minutes  we  can  have  no  fellowship  with 
them  till  they  change  their  conduct?     Yes. 

'•  The  following  rules  were  agreed  to  by  all  the  Preach- 
ers present  : 

"  1.  Every  Preacher  who  acts  in  connection  with  Mr. 
Wesley  and  the  brethren  who  labor  in  America  is  strictly 
to  avoid  administering  the  ordinances  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  supper. 

"  2.  All  the  people  among  whom  we  labor  to  be  earn- 
estly exhorted  to  attend  the  Church,  and  to  receive  the 
ordinances  there;  but  in  a  particular  manner  to  press 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.      163 

the  people  in  Maryland  and  Virginia  to  the  observance 
of  this  minute. 

"  3.  No  person  or  persons  to  be  admitted  in  our  love- 
feasts  oftener  than  twice  or  thrice,  unless  they  become 
members ;  and  none  to  be  admitted  to  the  Society  meet- 
ings more  than  thi'ice. 

"  4.  None  of  the  Preachers  in  America  to  reprint  any  of 
Mr.  Wesley's  books  without  his  authority  (when  it  can 
be  gotten)  and  the  consent  of  their  brethren. 

"  5.  Robert  Williams  to  sell  the  books  he  has  already 
printed,  but  to  print  no  more  unless  under  the  above  re- 
strictions. 

"  6.  Every  Preacher  who  acts  as  an  assistant,  to  send 
an  account  of  the  work  once  in  six  months  to  the  general 
assistant.'" 

Asbury,  arriving  on  the  second  day  of  the  session, 
hints  at  the  anti-Wesleyan  tendencies  of  the  times  by 
saying  that  he  "did  not  find  such  harmony"  on  that 
day  "  as  he  could  wish  for,"  and  concludes  his  notice  of 
the  proceedings  with  the  remark  that  "  there  were  some 
debates  among  the  preachers  in  this  Conference  relative 
to  the  conduct  of  some  who  had  manifested  a  desire  to 
abide  in  the  cities  and  live  like  gentlemen.  Three  years 
out  of  four  have  been  already  spent  in  the  cities.  It  was 
also  found  that  money  had  been  wasted,  improper  lead- 
ers appointed,  and  many  of  our  rules  broken." 

Wesley,  being  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  Established 
Church  of  England,  had  trained  his  people  to  humble 
submission  to  its  arrogant  policy  toward  them ;  Rankin 
enforced  a  like  submission  in  this  country,  as  the  English 
Church  was  still  recognized  here  in  some  of  the  colo- 
nies, particularly  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  where  it  was 

3  Minutes  of  the  Annual  Conferences  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  vol.  i,  p.  5. 
New  York.    1S40. 


164  HISTOKY    OF    THE 

established  by  law ;  hence  the  rules  numbered  tirst  and 
second.  But  the  Revolution  was  already  looming  over 
the  country.  The  English  clergy  were  deserting  it ;  and 
many  that  remained  were  of  very  questionable  moral 
character.  A  great  proportion  of  the  colonists  had  no 
traditional  attachment  to  the  Anglican  Church  ;  the  sub- 
missive policy  of  Wesley  in  England  was  therefore  irrel- 
evant in  America.  He  was  too  distant  to  perceive  the 
fact;  and  his  representatives  were  too  Anglican  to  recog- 
nize it,  but  many  of  the  American  Methodists,  and  some 
of  their  Preachers,  were  wiser.  They  insisted  upon  their 
right  to  the  sacraments  from  their  own  Pastors.  Theo- 
retically none  of  us,  now,  can  dispute  their  claim ;  prac- 
tically Wesley  himself  conceded  it,  after  the  additional 
and  decisive  argument  of  the  Revolution,  by  constituting 
tln-'m  an  independent  Cluiroh,  with  full  jiowers  to  conse- 
crate the  sacraments.  The  men  who  then  seemed  radi- 
cal, in  this  respect,  were  so,  simply,  because  they  had  a 
superior  foresight  of  the  predestined  importance  and 
needs  of  American  Methodism.  Robert  Strawbridge,  as 
we  have  seen,  contended  sturdily  for  the  right  of  the 
people  to  the  sacraments,  and  could  not  be  deterred  by 
Asbury  or  Rankin  from  administering  them,  lie  had 
founded  the  Church  in  the  regions  whence  now  nearly 
one  half  of  its  members  were  reported;  he  had  admmls- 
tered  to  them  the  sacraments  befoi'e  any  P^iiglish  itnieranta 
appeared  in  the  country,  and  being  an  Irishman,  he 
shared  not  in  the  deferential  sympathies  of  his  English 
brethren  for  the  Establishment ;  as  for  any  other  senti- 
ments, the  actual  character  of  the  representatives  of  the 
Establishment,  clerical  and  lay,  around  him,  could  claim 
none  from  him  but  pity  or  contempt.  Its  clergy  were 
known  chiefly  as  the  heartiest  card-players,  horse-racers, 
and  drinkers  of  the  middle  colonies.    Robert  Strawbridge 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        165 

was  doubtless  imprudent  in  the  Irish  resolution  with 
which  he  resisted  the  policy  of  the  English  itinerants ; 
for  the  intuitive  foresight  with  which  he  anticipated  the 
necessity  of  the  independent  administration  of  the  sacra- 
ments, should  have  suggested  to  him  the  certainty  of  their 
concession  in  due  time,  and  therefore  the  expediency  of 
patient  harmony  in  the  infant  Church  till  that  time  should 
come.  Discord  was  extremely  perilous  at  this  early 
stage  of  the  denomination.  He  was  firm,  however ;  and 
though  the  first  "  rule"  adopted  by  this  Conference  seems 
absolute,  yet  we  learn  from  Asbury  that  it  was  adopted 
with  the  understanding  that  "  no  preacher  in  our  connec- 
tion shall  be  permitted  to  administer  the  ordinances  at 
this  time  except  Mr.  Strawbridge,  and  he  under  the  par- 
ticular direction  of  the  assistant."  A  concession  so  sin- 
gular shows  the  extraordinary  consideration  in  which 
Strawbridge  was  held,  the  influence  he  had  obtained 
over  the  Societies  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  perhaps  also 
the  conscious  necessity  of  the  independent  administration 
of  the  sacraments  in  that  chief  field  of  the  denomination. 
As  we  shall  hereafter  see,  this  just  claim  of  American 
Methodism  could  not  be  efiectually  refused ;  it  led  to  in- 
creasing contention,  and  at  last,  providentially,  gave  birth 
to  the  organization  of  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America." 

The  allusion  to  Robert  Williams  and  his  books,  though 
brief,  is  full  of  significance;  it  foreshadows  the  "Method- 
ist Book  Concern,"  in  our  times  one  of  the  most  potent 
arms  of  the  Church.  A  cotemporary  historian  says  that 
"  Previous  to  the  formation  of  this  rule,  Robert  Williams, 
one  of  the  Preachers,  had  reprinted  many  of  Mr.  Wesley's 
books,  and  had  spread  them  through  the  country,  to  the 
great  advantage  of  religion.  The  sermons,  which  he 
printed  in  small  pamphlets,  had  a  very  good  effect,  and 


I 


166  HISTORY    OF    THE 

gave  the  people  great  light  and  understanding  in  the 
nature  of  the  new  birth  and  in  the  plan  of  salvation  ;  an<i 
withal,  they  opened  the  way  in  tnany  places  for  our 
preachers  to  be  invited  to  preach  where  they  had  never 
been  before.  But,  notwithstanding  the  good  that  had 
been  done  by  the  circulation  of  the  books,  it  now  became 
necessary  for  all  the  preachers  to  be  united  in  the  same 
course  of  printing  and  selling  our  books,  so  that  the 
profits  arising  therefrom  might  be  divided  among  them 
or  applied  to  some  charitable  purpose."*  The  zealous 
Robert  Williams  had  then,  by  his  himible  pamphlets, 
done  a  good  work  and  provoked  a  better. 

"We  parted  in  love,"  writes  Rankin.  Tlie  first  differ- 
ences of  oi)inion  noticed  by  Asbury  seem  to  have  yielded 
to  a  unanimous  sense  of  the  importance  of  harmony. 

The  appointments  for  the  ensuing  ecclesiastical  year  were, 
New  York,  Thomas  Rankin,  and  Philadelphia,  George 
Shadford,  to  exchange  in  four  months ;  New  Jersey,  John 
King,  William  Watters;  Baltimore,  Francis  Asbury,  Rob- 
ert Strawbridge,  A1)raham  Whitworth,  Joseph  Ycarbry  ; 
Norfolk,  Richard  Wright ;  Petersburg,  Robert  Willian\s. 

Boardman  and  Pilmoor  do  not  appear  in  this  list, 
though  they  continiied  in  the  country  nearly  six  months. 
They  ha<l  labored  in  it  about  four  years.  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  being  their  head-quarters.  Without  inter- 
meddling with  the  rife  political  questions  of  the  times, 
they  were  loyal,  as  Englishmen,  to  the  parent  govern- 
ment ;  and  when  they  saw  the  terrible  certainty  of  war, 
they  quietly  retired  fi*om  the  country,  embarking  together 
for  England  on  Sunday,  the  2d  of  January,  1774,  "after 
commending  the  Americans  to  God."  They  left  2,073 
members  in  the  Societies,  10  regularly  organized  circuits, 
and  17  Preachers. 

*  Lee,  p.  48. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         167 

Boardman  immediately  resumed  his  ministerial  travels 
in  Ireland,  laboring  on  the  Londonderry,  Cork,  Athlone, 
and  Limerick  Circuits,  from  1774  to  1180.     Jn  the  latter 
year  he  was  appointed  to  London  with  Charles  Wesley, 
Dr.  Coke,  and  other  leading  preachers.     In  1781  he  re- 
turned to  Ireland  and  traveled  Limerick  Circuit.    The 
next  year  he  was  appointed  to  Cork,  where  he  died  in 
1782.     In  the  old  Arminian  Magazine  for  1795  we  have 
"  The  Experience  of  Mr.  Zachariah  Yewdall,"  a  humble 
itinerant,  who  was   Boardman's  colleague  on  the  Cork 
Circuit.     It    records    that    "Mr.  Boardman   tarried   at 
Limerick  till  the  end  of  September,  and  then  came  to 
Cork,  where  he  had  labored  before,  and  was  universally 
known  and  beloved  by  the  people,  who  were  anxious  for 
his  coming,  and  in  great  expectation  that  his  ministry 
would  be  successful.     On  the  Sabbath  morning  after  his 
arrival  he  preached  from  Job  viii,   15  :  'Though  he  slay 
me,  j'et  will  I  trust  in  him ;'  but  was  not  able  to  preach 
in  the  evening.     The  physician  made  light  of  the  dis- 
order, though  there  were  evident  symptoms  of  an  ap- 
proaching apoplexy,  so  that  no  means  were  made  use 
of  to  prevent  what  soon  happened.     Being  some  better 
the  next  day,  he  continued  to  preach  every  evening  as 
usual  till  Friday,  when  he  attended  the  Intercession  at 
noon.     He  was  observed  to  pray  with  uncommon  fervor 
for  the  success  of  the  Gospel,  and  for  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry.     After  the  meeting  he  went  to  a  friend's  house 
in  the  city ;  as  soon  as  he  got  there  he  lost  the  use  of 
his  speech,  and  with  some  difficulty  was  conveyed  to  his 
lodgings  in  a  chaise. 

From  that  time  he  sunk  into  a  state  of  insensibility, 
and  about  nine  o'clock  was  released  from  all  his  sufferings. 
He  had  preached  the  Gospel  with  much  success  a  consid- 
erable number  of  years  in  various  parts  of  Britain,  Ire- 


: J. 


l(}6  HISTORY    OF    THE 

land,  and  America.  He  was  an  excellent  and  useful 
preacher,  a  kind  friend,  and  of  an  amiable,  engaging  dis- 
position ;  bis  life  was  devoted  to  the  service  of  God,  and 
employed  in  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  he  is  now  reaping 
the  reward  of  his  labors.  At  the  time  of  his  death  I  was 
at  Bandon,  keeping  a  watch-night,  but  a  messenger  was 
waiting  next  morning  at  my  chamber  door  with  the  aw- 
ful tidings.  When  I  got  to  Cork  I  found  our  friends  in- 
volved in  sorrow  and  lamenting  their  loss,  particularly 
his  widow.  They  had  been  married  only  thirteen 
mi^nths,  and  had  one  son,  who  soon  after  lost  his  mother 
by  death.  On  the  Lord's  day  I  preached  Mr.  Board- 
man's  funeral  sermon  to  a  very  crowded  audience.  His 
remains  were  jdaccd  at  the  foot  of  the  pulpit,  wliicli 
adibd  to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  In  my  retire- 
ment, before  preaching,  the  task  I  was  to  enter  upon 
seemed  too  much  for  my  feelings ;  but  the  Lord  saw  my 
tears  and  heard  my  cries ;  he  lifted  me  up  and  strength- 
ened me." 

The  next  day,  followed  by  "  a  great  multitude  of  seri- 
ous people,"  singing  hymns  on  the  way,  his  brethren 
bore  the  remains  of  the  hero  to  St.  Barry's  churchyard, 
where  a  modest  monument  commemonites  his  services. 
lie  had  been  faithful  to  the  end.  "  He  preached,"  says 
Wesley,  "  the  night  before  he  died.  It  seems  that  he 
might  have  been  eminently  useful ;  but  good  is  the  will 
of  the  Lord."*  "  In  his  last  prayer,"  says  the  cotempo- 
rary  biographer  of  ^lethodisra,  "  at  the  Intercession  on 
Friday,  he  prayed  fervently  for  the  people,  and  begged, 
that  if  tliis  were  to  be  their  last  meeting  on  earth,  they 
might  have  a  happy  meeting  in  the  realms  of  light.  It 
is  remarkable  that  when  he  was  leaving  Limerick  he  told 
Mrs.  Boardman  he  should  die  in  Cork.  But  this  was  no 
»  Minutei,  1788. 


"T 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        169 

concern  to  him,  as  he  knew  that  for  him  to  live  was 
Christ,  and  to  die  eternal  gain.  To  him  sudden  death 
was  sudden  glory ."^ 

Pilmoor  hesitated  to  re-enter  the  itinerancy  on  his  re- 
turn. He  is  reported  in  Wesley's  Minutes  as  "  desisting  " 
from  traveling  in  1114.  He  does  not  appear  in  the  Min- 
utes again  till  1776,  when  he  was  gratified  with  an 
appointment  in  the  metropolis.  During  the  next  two 
years  he  traveled  the  Norwich  circuit.  We  can  trace 
him  afterward  to  Edinburgh,  Dublin,  Nottingham,  Edin- 
burgh again,  and  York.  In  1785  his  name  disappears 
from  the  appointments  without  explanation,  and  appears 
in  them  no  more.  In  the  preceding  year  Wesley  had 
made  provision  for  the  Episcopal  organization  of  Ameri- 
can Methodism,  and  also,  by  his  "  Deed  of  Declaration," 
for  the  constitution  of  the  Wesleyan  Conference,  by  the 
appointment  of  one  hundred  preachers  who  should  legally 
represent  that  body  after  his  death.  Pilmoor  was  not 
included  in  either  of  these  great  measures.  He  was 
offended  and  retired.' 

Returning  to  America,  he  took  orders  in  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  and  labored  in  Philadelphia.  In  1802 
a  hundred  and  twenty-two  members  of  Trinity  Church, 
New  York,  petitioned  its  authorities  to  appoint  him  an 
assistant  minister  in  its  parish.  The  petition  was  re- 
fused; the  petitioners  seceded  and  organized  a  new 
Church  on  Ann-street,  and,  at  last,  obtained  him  as  their 
pastor.^  He  afterward  removed  again  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  was  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  to  the  pulpit 
of  which  he  often  admitted  Asbury,  Coke,  and  other 
Methodist  preachers.  The  University  of  Pennsylvania 
honored  him  with  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.     He 

9  Atmore,  p.  59.  '  Wes.  Mag.,  1845,  p.  15. 

•  Dr.  Berrian's  Historical  Sketch  of  Trinity  Church,  p.  184. 


170  HlfiTORY    OF    THE 

(lied  in  a  good  old  age,  generally  venerated.  He  never 
lost  his  original  affection  for  his  'tineraut  brethren. 
While  in  Xew  York  he  saluted  them  at  iheir  Conference 
sessions,  and  paid  an  annual  subscription  to  their  Preach- 
ers' Fund.  Asbury  alludes  to  him  frequently  and  affec- 
tionately. He  outgrew  his  resentment  against  Wesley, 
and  sincerely  mourned  his  death.  On  hearing  of  that 
event  he  wrote  to  Atmore  :  ''This  will  be  handed  to  you 
by  Dr.  Coke,  who  leaves  this  country  sooner  than  he  in- 
tended, on  account  of  the  death  of  that  truly  great  man, 
John  Wesley.  For  some  years  T  have  been  pleasing 
myself  with  the  thought  of  seeing  him  again  before  his 
departure  to  paradise  ;  but  I  am  too  late.  I  always  most 
affectionately  loved  him,  and  shall  feel  a  special  regard 
for  him  even  in  heaven  itself  If  tliere  be  anything 
which  touches  my  heart  it  is  a  concern  for  those  preach- 
trrs  who  were  in  the  work  before  you  or  I  ever  heard  of 
Methodism;  and  I  entreat  you  to  treat  ihom  with  most 
tender  respect.  Yes,  my  friend,  I  do  and  shall  eternally 
love  you ;  and  if  I  must  not  see  you  any  more  upon 
earth,  I  shall  shortly  meet  youbef(»re  the  throne  of  God. 
Wishing  you  a  time  of  refreshing  at  your  Conference, 
I  remain,  in  immortal  affection,  most  unchangeably 
yours."'  As  late  as  1807  he  wrote  again  to  the  same  old 
friend,  "  On  earth,  in  heaven,  I  shall  eternally  love  you. 
My  heart  is  ever  toward  you  in  the  Lord.  As  I  am  now 
on  the  border  of  another  world,  I  feel  it  t()  be  my  duty  to 
examine  closely  the  ground  upon  which  I  stand.  Two 
things  are  essential,  a  title  to  the  inheritance,  and  a  meet- 
ness  for  the  enjoyment  of  it.  By  the  former  the  right  to 
the  inheritance  is  secured;  and  by  the  latter  the  qualifica- 
tion for  an  eternal  possession  of  bliss  unutterably  full  of 
glory.  It  is  well  for  me  that  it  is  all  of  grace ;  for  wor- 
•  Wea.  Mag.,  1S45,  p.  210. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        171 

thiness  of  merit  belongs  not  to  man,  especially  to  one  so 
imperfect  as  I  am.  I  am  happy  to  hear,  from  various 
quarters,  that  religion  is  gloriously  pi-ospering  in  En- 
gland, and  that  the  Methodists  have  great  success.  The 
vine,  long  since  planted  by  the  venerable  Wesley,  has 
spread  its  branches  and  well-nigh  filled  the  laud.  Bless- 
ed be  God !  Halleluiah  !  In  this  country  too,  where 
we  poor  under-planters  were  employed,  the  word  has 
taken  a  universal  spread,  and  the  Methodists  bid  fair  to 
outnumber  most  of  their  neighbors.  This  is  indeed  the 
Lord's  doing ;  showing  that  life  and  zeal  in  religion  are 
w-orth  more  than  all  the  arts  and  sciences  together.  So 
it  was  in  England,  so  it  is  in  America,  and  so  it  will  be 
in  all  the  earth.  '  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus.'  '"^  This  sounds 
like  his  original  Methodist  vernacular.  He  never  lost 
his  Methodistic  fervor,  A  veteran  American  Methodist 
itinerant  says  :  "  The  truly  evangelical  spirit  produced 
through  his  instrumentality  in  the  congregations  over 
which  he  presided,  and  a  correspondent  attention  to  some 
of  the  peculiar  means  of  grace  which  he  introduced 
among  them,  continued  to  manifest  themselves  for  a 
number  of  years  after  his  death."" 

Though  no  minute  accounts  of  the  labors  of  these  first 
Methodist  itinerants,  in  America,  remain,  and  we  are  left 
to  the  mere  allusions  of  cotemporary  records  for  an 
estimate  of  their  services,  these  scattered  notices  sufiice 
to  show  that  they  laid  substantially  and  broadly  the 
foundations  of  the  denomination,  preaching  from  Boston 
to  Sa\  annah,  and  preparing  effectively,  during  more  than 
four  years,  the  work  which  their  successors  were  to  prose- 
cute with  a  success  which  has  had  no  parallel  since  the 
Apostolic  Age. 

»»  Ibid,  p.  532. 

"  Eev.  Dr.  Sandford,  Wes.  Miss,  to  America,  p.  26. 


172  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Ricbaril  Wright  also  returned  to  England  in  the  early 
part  of  17T4.  He  liad  spent  but  one  year  in  the  British 
itinerancy  before  lie  accompanied  Asbury  to  America. 
He  labored  chiefly  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  though 
there  is  evidence  that  he  spent  a  part  of  1772  in  New 
York  city."  On  his  return  to  Europe  he  continued  to 
itinerate  two  or  three  years,  when  he  located,  and  disap- 
peare<l  entirely  from  the  records  of  the  ministry. 

Captain  Webb  lingered  in  the  Colonies  a  year  or  more, 
after  the  departure  of  Hoardman  and  Pilmoor,  laboring 
with  his  might  to  extend  and  fortify  the  young  Societies, 
notwithstanding  the  increasing  tumults  of  politics  and 
war.  But  the  cotemporary  records  give  us,  further, 
only  allusions  to  this  noble  man  and  devoted  evangelist. 
We  may  here,  therefore,  properly  take  our  final  leave  of 
hira.  He  devoted  at  least  nine  years  to  the  promotion 
of  American  Methodism,  the  periods  of  his  absence  in 
Europe  being  spent  there  in  its  behalf.  I  have  not  hesi- 
tated to  pronounce  him  the  principal  founder  of  the 
denomination  in  the  United  States.  No  trace  of  his 
remaining  life  can,  therefore,  fail  to  be  interesting  to 
American  re^aders. 

On  his  return  to  England  he  secured  a  home  for  his 
family  in  Portland,  on  the  heights  of  Bristol,  but  still 
traveled,  and  preached  extensively  in  chapels,  in  market- 
l)laces,  and  in  the  open  air,  attended  by  immense  congre- 
g.ations.  "  How  did  he  live  the  remainder  of  his  life?" 
asks  a  British  itinerant  who  knew  him  through  most  of 
his  career ;  and  he  answers :  "  We  add  with  pleasure  that 
to  him  the  promise  was  sure,  '  He  that  hath  clean  hatids 
shall  grow  stronger  and  stronger.'  Having  escaped  so 
many  dangers  and  deaths,  he  believed,  like  Jacob,  that  his 
'  Goel,'  the  good  angel  of  the  Lord,  had  redeemed  hira 
"  Wakeley,  chop.  24. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       173 

from  all  miscHef.  To  the  end  of  his  days  he  was  per- 
suaded that  a  ministering  spirit,  a  guardian  angel,  had, 
through  divine  mercy,  attended  him  all  the  way  in  his 
diversijfied  pilgrimage.  He  left  everywhere  a  high  exam- 
ple of  persevering  diligence  and  zeal.  From  the  year 
1776  to  1782,  a  time  of  war  by  land  and  sea,  he  annually 
made  a  summer's  visit  to  the  French  prisoners  at  Win- 
chester, addressing  them  in  their  own  language,  which 
he  had  studied  while  in  Canada.  He  proceeded  thence 
to  Portsmouth,  where  crowded  auditories  of  soldiers 
and  sailors  listened  to  him  with  all  possible  veneration. 
In  Bristol  and  the  neighboring  country,  wherever  he 
preached,  spiritual  good  was  effected." 

In  1792  he  was  liberal  and  active  in  erecting  the  Port- 
laud  Church  at  Bristol,  "  one  of  the  most  elegant  chapels," 
says  a  Wesleyan  author,  "in  the  Methodist  connection, 
if  not  in  the  kingdom."  He  preached  his  last  sermon  in 
it.  "  He  appeared,"  says  the  same  authority,  "  to  have 
had  a  presentiment  for  some  time  of  his  approaching 
dissolution,  and  shortly  before  his  death  he  spoke  to  an , 
intimate  friend  of  the  place  and  manner  of  his  interment, 
observing :  "  I  should  prefer  a  triumphant  death ;  but 
I  may  be  taken  away  suddenly.  However,  I  know  I 
am  happy  in  the  Lord,  and  shall  be  with  him  whenever 
he  calls  me  hence,  and  that  is  sufficient."  In  the  auto- 
biography of  one  of  the  leading  cotemporary  preachers 
we  read :  "  Dec.  8th,  1 796.  I  spent  a  profitable  hour  with 
that  excellent  man,  Captain  Webb,  of  Bristol.  He  is 
indeed  truly  devoted  to  God,  and  has  maintained  a  con- 
sistent profession  for  many  years.  He  is  now  in  his 
seventy-second  year,  and  as  active  as  many  who  have 
only  attained  their  fiftieth.  He  gives  to  the  cause  of  God, 
and  to  the  poor  of  Christ's  flock,  the  greater  part  of  his 
income.     He  is  waiting,  with  cheerful  anticipation,  for 


174  HISTORY    OF    XnE 

liig  great  aud  full  rewanl.  IIo  bids  fair  to  go  to  the 
grave  like  a  sliock  of  corn,  fully  ripe."  Again  we  read : 
"Wednesday,  Dec.  21  st.  Last  night,  about  eleven  o'clock, 
Captain  Webb  suddenly  entered  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 
lie  partodk  of  his  supper,  and  retired  to  rest  about  ten 
o'clock  in  his  usual  health.  In  less  than  an  hour  his  spirit 
left  the  tenement  of  clay  to  enter  the  realms  of  eternal 
bliss.  He  professed  to  have  had  some  presentiment  that 
he  should  change  worlds  during  the  present  year,  and 
that  liis  departure  would  be  sudden."  And  again : 
''Saturday,  Dec.  •24th.  This  afternoon  the  remains  of  the 
good  old  captain  were  dejtositcd  in  a  vault  under  the 
comnumion  table  of  Portland  Chapel.  He  was  carried  by 
six  local  preachers,  and  the  pall  was  snj)porte<l  by  the 
Kev.  Messrs.  Hradford,  Pritchard,  Hoberts,  Davies, 
Mayer,  and  M'Geary.  I  conducted  the  funeral  service, 
and  Mr.  Pritthanl  preachetl  from  Acts  xx,  24.  It  was 
a  solemn  season,  and  will  long  be  remembered  by  those 
who  were  j)resent." 

The  venerable  soldier  and  evangelist  was  thus  laid  to 
rest  by  "a  crowded,  weeping  audience."  The  "Society 
showed  him  great  re8j>ect;  the  chapel  wa,s  hung  in 
mourning;"  and  the  trustees  erected  a  marble  monument 
to  his  memory  within  its  walls,  pronouncing  him  "  Brave, 
Active,  Courageous,  —  Faithful,  Zealous,  Successful, — 
the  principal  instrument  in  erecting  this  chajiel."  His 
name  must  be  forever  illustrious  in  the  ecclesiastical 
history  of  the  New  World,  and  Ajuerican  Methodists 
will  close  this  final  account  of  a  character  so  historically 
important  ami  so  intrinsically  interesting,  with  regret 
that  the  record  must  present  such  a  paucity  of  facts. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        175 


CHAPTER  YIIL 

NATIVE     EVANGELISTS. 

William  Walters,  the  first  native  Methodist  Itinerant  — His  early  Life 

—  His  Conversion  —  He  becomes  an  Itinerant  —  Robert  Williams  — 
Rev.  Devereu.i:  Jarratt  —  Great  religious  Excitement  in  Virginia  — 
Watters  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland— Methodi.^m  in  Kent 
County  — Its  first  Chapel  —  Philip  Gatch,  the  second  native  Itinerant 

—  His  early  Life — Nathan  Perigau  — Gatch' s  Conversion  —  He  begins 
to  preach  —  Itinerates  in  New  Jersey  -  Benjamin  Abbott  —  His  Char- 
acter—  His  early  History  —  His  moral  Straggles  — His  Conversion  — 
The  Fall  of  Abraham  Whitforth  —  Abbott  begins  to  preach  —Power 
of  his  Word  — A  remarkable  Example  —  Daniel  RuflT. 

While  some  of  the  laborers  were  retiring  from  the  field, 
others  were  entering  it — more  important,  because  native 
evangelists.  William  Watters's  name  appears  in  the  list 
of  appointments  made  at  the  first  American  conference, 
and  to  him  is  now  universally  conceded  the  peculiar  dis- 
tinction of  being  the  first  native  American  itinerant  of 
Methodism ;  an  honor  never  to  be  shared,  never  impaired. 
He  has  left  us  an  unpretentious  "Short  Account"  of  his 
"  Christian  experience  and  ministerial  labors."^  He  was 
bom  in  Baltimore  county,  Maryland,  on  the  16th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1751.  His  parents  were  strict  members  of  the 
English  Church,  and  from  his  infancy  he  was  addicted 
to  religious  reflections.  "At  a  very  early  period,"  he 
writes,  "  I  well  remember  to  have  been  under  serious  im- 
pressions at  various  times ;"  but  when  about  twelve  or 
fourteen  years  old  he  took,  he  says,  "great  delio-ht  in 

>  A  Short  Account  of  the  Christian  Experience  and  Ministerial  Labors 
of  William  Watters.  Drawn  up  by  himself  Alexandria.  Printed  by 
S.  Suowden.  The  imprint  has  no  date,  but  the  pretace  is  dated  Fairfti:L 
May  14,  1806.  ^ 


176  HISTORY    OF    THE 

dancing,  card-playing,  horse-racing,  and  such  pernicious 
practices,  though  often  t<:MTifieJ  witli  thoughts  of  eternity 
in  the  midst  of  them.  Thus  did  my  precious  time  roll 
away  while  I  was  held  in  the  chains  of  my  sins,  too  often 
a  willing  captive  of  the  devil.  I  had  no  one  to  tell  me 
the  evil  of  sin,  or  to  teach  me  the  way  of  life  and  salva- 
tion. The  two  ministers  in  the  two  parishes,  with  whom 
I  was  acquainted,  were  both  immoral  men,  and  had  no 
gifts  for  the  ministry;  if  they  received  their  salary  they 
apjieared  to  think  but  little  about  the  souls  of  the  people. 
The  blind  were  evidently  leading  the  blind,  and  it  was 
by  the  mere  mercy  of  God  that  we  did  not  Jill  fall  into 
hell  altogether."  When  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  of 
age  he  was  considered  by  his  associates  "a  very  good 
Christian,"  but  he  thought  of  himself  quite  otherwise. 
"It  was,"  he  says,  "my  constant  practice  to  attend  the 
church  with  my  prayer  book,  and  to  often  read  my  Bible 
and  other  good  books,  and  sometimes  I  attempted  to  say 
my  j)rayers  in  private.  Many  times,  wlien  I  have  been 
sinning  against  God,  I  have  felt  much  inward  uneasiness, 
and  often,  on  reflection,  a  hell  within,  till  I  could  invent 
something  to  divert  my  mind  I'rom  such  reflections. 
Hence,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  I  liave  left  the  dancing- 
room  to  pray  to  God  that  he  might  not  be  oflijnded  with 
me,  and  have  then  returned  to  it  again  with  as  much  de- 
light as  ever." 

Strawbridge,  King,  and  Williams  were  abroad  around 
him,  preaching  in  private  houses,  and  in  1  770  he  had  fre- 
quent opportunities  of  hearing  them.  "I  could  not  con- 
ceive," he  writes,  "  what  they  meant  by  saying  we  must 
be  born  again,  and,  though  I  thought  but  little  of  all  I 
heard,  for  some  time,  yet  I  dared  not  despise  and  revile 
them,  as  many  then  did.  By  frequently  being  in  com- 
pany with  several  of  my  old  acquaintances,  who  had  pro- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        177 

fessed  Methodism,  among  whom  was  ray  oldest  brotlier 
and  his  Avife,  (who  I  thought  equal  to  any  religious  people 
in  the  world,)  and  hearing  them  all  declare,  as  with  one 
voice,  that  they  knew  nothing  of  heart-religion,  the  re- 
ligion of  the  Bible,  till  since  they  had  heard  the  Meth- 
odists preach,  I  was  utterly  confounded ;  and  I  could  not 
but  say  with  Nicodemus,  '  How  can  these  things  be  V 
While  I  was  marveling  at  the  unheard-of  things  that 
these  strange  people  were  spreading  wherever  they 
came,  and  before  I  was  aware,  I  found  my  heart  in- 
clined to  forsake  many  of  my  vain  practices,  and  at 
the  last  place  of  merriment  I  ever  attended,  I  remem- 
ber well  I  was  hardly  even  a  looker-on.  So  vain  did 
all  their  mirth  appear  to  me,  as  did  also  their  dancing, 
which  I  was  formerly  so  fond  of,  that  now  no  argu- 
ments could  prevail  on  me  to  be  seen  on  the  floor.  I 
had  my  reflections,  though  I  was  on  the  devil's  ground ; 
and,  among  others,  while  I  was  looking  at  a  young  man 
of  property,  who  was  beastly  drunk  and  scarcely  able  to 
sit  in  his  chair,  a  dog  passed  by,  and  I  deliberately  thought 
I  would  rather  be  that  dog  than  a  drunkard.  Some, 
even  of  my  friends,  began  to  fear  that  I  should  become  a 
Methodist ;  but  I  had  no  such  thought,  and  yet  I  often 
found  my  poor  heart  drawn  to  them,  as  a  people  that 
lived  in  a  manner  I  never  had  known  any  to  live  before." 
By  the  religious  care  of  his  early  education  and  the 
natural  tenderness  of  his  conscience,  it  was  impossible 
that  he  could  long  resist  the  Methodist  influences  which 
now  met  him  on  every  side.  "  I  seldom,  if  ever,"  he 
adds,  "  omitted  bowing  my  sinful  knees  before  the  God 
and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  four  or  five  times 
a  day.  It  was  daily  my  prayer  that  God  would  teach 
me  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  not  sufier  me  to  be 
deceived.  After  being  uncommonly  uneasy  for  several 
A— 12 


178  HISTORY    OF    THE 

days  concerning  the  state  of  my  soul,  I  went  with  my 
eldest  brother  and  family  to  a  prayer-meeting  in  his  neigh- 
borhood on  a  Sabbath  day ;  and  while  one  was  at  prayer 
I  saw  a  man  near  me,  whom  I  knew  to  be  a  poor  sinner, 
trembling,  weeping,  and  praying,  as  though  his  all  de- 
pended on  the  present  moment ;  his  soul  and  body  were 
in  an  agony.  The  gracious  Lord,  who  works  by  what 
means  he  pleases,  blessed  this  circumstance  greatly  to 
my  conviction ;  so  that  I  felt,  in  a  manner  which  I  have 
not  words  fully  to  express,  that  I  must  be  internally 
changed,  that  I  must  be  bom  of  the  Spirit,  or  never  see 
the  face  of  God.  Without  this,  I  was  deeply  sensible 
that  all  I  had  done  or  could  do  was  vain.  I  went  home 
much  distressed,  and  fully  determined,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul  with  my  whole 
heart.  In  this  frame  of  mind,  I  soon  got  by  myself  and 
fell  upon  my  knees.  But,  alas !  my  sinful  heart  felt  as  a 
rock,  and  though  I  believed  myself  in  the  '  gall  of  bitter- 
ness and  in  the  bonds  of  iniquity,'  and,  of  course,  that  if 
I  died  in  that  state  I  must  die  eternally,  yet  I  could  not 
shed  one  tear,  neither  could  I  find  words  to  express  my 
wretchedness  before  my  merciful  High  Priest ;  I  could 
only  bemoan  my  forlorn  state,  and  I  wandered  about 
through  the  afternoon  in  solitary  places,  seeking  rest  but 
finding  none." 

That  night,  however,  in  another  prayer-meeting,  both 
his  heart  and  eyes  melted.  "  I  was  so  melted  down  and 
blessed  with  such  a  praying  heart,  that  I  should  have 
been  glad  if  they  would  have  continued  on  their  knees 
all  night  in  prayer  for  me,  a  poor,  helpless  wretch." 

The  next  day  he  was  unfit  for  any  business :  he  spent 
it  in  retirement.  "  I  refused  to  be  comforted  but  by  the 
Friend  of  sinners.  My  cry  was,  day  and  night.  Save, 
Lord,  or  T  perish  ;  give  me  Christ,  or  else  I  die.     In  this 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.        179 

State  I  loved  nothing  better  than  weeping,  mourning, 
and  prayer,  humbly  hoping,  waiting,  and  longing  for  the 
coming  of  the  Lord.     For  three  days  and  nights  eatmg, 
drinking,  and  sleeping  in  a  measure  fled  from  me,  while 
my  flesh  wasted  away  and  my  strength  failed  in  such  a 
manner  that  I  found  it  was  not  without  cause  that  it 
is  asked,  'A  wounded  sj^irit  who  can  heal?'     Having 
returned    in    the    afternoon    from    the    woods    to    my 
chamber,  my  eldest   brother  (at  whose  house  I  was) 
knowing  my    distress,   entered  my  room   with  all  the 
sympathy  of  a  brother  and  a  Christian.     To  my  great 
astonishment  he  informed  me  that  God  had  that  day 
blessed  him  with  his  pardoning  love.     After  giving  me 
all  the  advice  in  his  power,  he  kneeled  down  with  me, 
and    with    a    low,    soft   voice    (which    was    frequently 
interrupted  by  tears)   he   ofiered  up  a  fervent   prayer 
to   God  for   my  present   salvation."     He   received   "a 
gleam   of  hope,"  but  was  not   content   with  it.     The 
next  day  several  "  praying  persons,"  who  knew  his  dis- 
tress, visited  him.     He  requested  them   to  pray  with 
him,  and  the  family  was  called  in,  though  it  was  about 
the  middle  of  the  day.     "  While  they  all  joined  in  sing- 
ing, my  face,"  he  says,  "  was  turned  to  the  wall,  with 
my  eyes  lifted  upward  in  a  flood  of  tears,  and  I  felt  a 
lively  hope  that  the  Lord,  whom  I  sought,  would  sud- 
denly come  to  his  temple.     My  good  friends  sung  with 
the  spirit  and  in  faith.     The  Lord  heard  and  appeared 
spiritually  in  the  midst  of  us.     A  divine  light  beamed 
through  my  inmost  soul,  and  in  a  few  minutes  encircled 
me  around,  surpassing  the  brightness  of  the  noonday 
sun.     Of  this  divine  glory,  with  the  holy  glow  that  I  felt 
within  my  soul,  I  have  still  as  distinct  an  idea  as  that  I 
ever  saw  the  light  of  the  natural  sun,  but  know  not  how 
fully  to  express  myself  so  as  to  be  understood  by  those 


180  HISTOKY    OF    TUE 

who  are  in  a  state  of  nature,  unexperienced  in  the  things 
of  God ;  for  '  the  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  foolishness  imto  him; 
neither  can  he  know  them,  for  they  are  spiritually  dis- 
cerned,' My  burden  was  gone,  my  sorrow  fled,  all  that 
was  within  me  rejoiced  in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God ; 
while  I  beheld  such  fullness  and  willingness  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  to  save  lost  sinners,  and  my  soul  so  rested  in  him, 
that  I  could  now,  for  the  first  time,  call  Jesus  Chiist 
'  Lord,  by  the  Holy  Ghost  given  unto  me.'  The  hymn 
being  concluded,  we  all  fell  upon  our  knees,  but  my 
prayers  were  all  turned  into  praises." 

Such  was  the  spiritual  birth  of  the  first  regular 
Methodist  preacher  of  the  new  world.  This  "  memora- 
ble change,"  he  says,  took  place  in  May,  1771,  in  the 
twentieth  year  of  his  age.  In  the  same  house  where  he 
was  bora  "  a  child  of  wrath,"  he  was  also  "  born  a  child 
of  grace."  He  immediately  joined  a  Methodist  class. 
All  Methodists  were,  in  those  days,  lal>orers  in  the  evan- 
gelical vineyard.  On  the  Lord's  day,  he  says,  they  com- 
monly divided  into  little  bands  and  went  out  into  differ- 
ent neighborhoods,  wherever  there  was  a  door  open  to 
receive  them,  two,  three,  or  four  in  company,  and 
would  sing  their  hymns,  pray,  read,  talk  to  the  people, 
"  and  some  soon  began  to  add  a  word  of  exhortation." 
"  We  were  weak,  but  we  lived  in  a  dark  day,  and  the 
Lord  greatly  owned  our  labors ;  for  though  we  were  not 
full  of  wisdom,  we  were  blessed  with  a  good  degree  of 
faith  and  power.  The  little  flock  was  of  one  mind,  and 
the  Lord  spread  the  leaven  of  his  grace  from  heart  to 
heart,  from  house  to  house,  and  from  one  neighborhood 
to  another.  It  was  astonishing  to  see  how  rapidly  the 
wo'k  extended  all  around  us,  bearing  down  opposi- 
tion as  chaff  before  the  wind.     Many  will  praise  God 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         181 

forever  for  our  prayer-meetings.  In  many  neighbor- 
hoods they  soon  became  respectable,  and  were  consider- 
ably attended."  Two  of  his  brothers  were  converted 
through  his  instrumentality,  one  of  them  becoming  a 
zealous  Local  Preachei-,  and  later,  a  Traveling  Preacher. 

One  of  Wesley's  sermons,  published  by  Robert  Wil- 
liams, led  William  Watters  into  a  still  deeper  spiritual 
experience,  and  he  became  an  advocate,  by  his  life  as 
well  as  his  exhortations,  of  entire  sanctification. 

In  1772,  when  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  he  began 
to  preach.  Robert  Williams  perceived  his  capacity  for 
usefulness,  and  took  him,  in  the  autumn,  to  Norfolk,  Va. 
The  scene  of  his  departure  for  an  itinerant  life  was 
deeply  affecting.  His  mother,  whom  he  loved  tenderly, 
oifered  him  all  her  possessions  if  he  would  abandon  his 
purpose.  Many  of  his  friends  "  wept  and  hung  around  " 
him ;  "  but,"  he  adds,  "  I  found  such  resignation  and  so 
clear  a  conviction  that  my  way  was  of  the  Lord,  that  I 
was  enabled  to  commit  them  and  myself  to  the  care  of 
our  heavenly  Father,  in  humble  confidence,  that  if  we 
never  met  again  in  this  vale  of  tears,  we  should  soon 
meet  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the 
weary  are  at  rest.  Calling  at  one  of  my  brothers  on  my 
way  to  take  my  leave  of  them,  at  parting  my  fortitude 
seemed  all  banished,  and  I  was  so  exceedingly  aifected, 
that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  I  could  find  any 
utterance  to  commit  them  in  prayer  to  the  Divine  pro- 
tection. O  for  a  continual  preparation  to  meet  where  aU 
tears  shall  be  wiped  away.  Even  so,  Lord  Jesus.  Amen." 
And  now  he  began  in  earnest  his  itinerant  career.  The 
two  evangelists  journeyed  and  preached,  almost  daily, 
through  Baltimore,  Georgetown,  and  other  places,  and 
arrived  at  last  in  Norfolk,  where,  under  many  discour- 
agements,  Watters   soon   formed    a   circuit,   extending 


182  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Bome  distance  among  the  neighboring  towns.  He  was 
seized  with  the  measles,  but  continued  his  labors. 
"To  my  inexpressible  consolation,"  he  says,  "several, 
both  in  town  and  country,  were  brought  to  know 
the  Lord,  which  gave  a  fresh  spring  to  my  humble  en- 
deavors. I  felt  liberty  and  power  to  speak  the  words  of 
eternal  life,  and  often  resolved  to  be  more  faithful  in 
the  important  work,  and  to  labor  while  it  was  called 
to-day." 

F*ilmoor  had  been  preacliing  in  Norfolk  ;  he  was  now 
released  by  Watters  to  pursue  his  southern  tour  to 
Charleston.  Williams  also  left  the  young  itinerant  and 
hastened  to  Portsmouth  and  further;  Jarratt  and  M'Rob- 
erts,  "  two  English  clergymen,"  received  him  with  open 
arms,  and  welcomed  him  to  their  parishes,  Jarratt  be- 
came a  staunch  friend  to  the  Methodist  itinerants  and  the 
confidential  friend  of  As1)ury :  his  name  often  occurs  in 
the  early  Methodist  publications.  He  had  the  good 
sense,  like  Fletcher,  Grimshaw,  Venn,  and  Perronet,  in 
England,  to  co-operate  with  them ;  and  had  his  clerical 
brethren,  of  the  colonies,  more  generally  followed  his 
example,  the  subsequent  relations  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  and  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  might  have 
been  very  different  from  what  they  have  been.  Samuel 
Davies,  the  celebrated  President  of  Princeton  College, 
and  the  friend  and  correspondent  of  Wesley,  had  trained 
Jarratt  for  the  ministry.  The  latter  became  rector 
of  the  parish  of  Bath,  Dinwiddle  county,  Va.,  in  1763. 
His  zealous  labors  produced  a  widespread  sensation. 
"  Revivals  "  prevailed  around  him  for  fifty  or  sixty  miles 
during  about  twelve  years.  He  held  frequent  meetings, 
and,  like  the  Methodists,  formed  numerous  societies, 
"  which,"  he  says,  he  "  found  a  happy  means  of  building 
up  those  who  had  believe<l  and  of  preventing  the  rest 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         183 

from  losing  tlieir  convictions.'"  In  1V73  he  wrote  to 
Wesley,'  "  Virginia  (the  land  of  my  nativity)  has  long 
groaned  through  a  want  of  faithful  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Many  souls  are  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge, 
many  crying  for  the  bread  of  life,  and  no  man  is  found 
to  break  it  to  them.  We  have  ninety-five  parishes  in 
the  colony,  and  all,  except  one,  I  believe  are  supplied 
with  clergymen.  But,  alas !  you  well  understand  the 
rest.  I  know  of  but  one  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland who  appears  to  have  the  power  and  spirit  of  vital 
religion  ;  for  all  seek  their  own,  and  not  the  things  that 
are  Christ's.  Is  not  our  situation  then  truly  deplorable  ? 
And  does  it  not  call  loudly  upon  the  friends  of  Zion  on 
your  side  the  Atlantic  to  assist  us  ?  Many  people  here 
heartily  join  with  me  in  returning  our  most  grateful 
acknowledgments  for  the  concern  you  have  shown  for 
us  in  sending  so  many  preachers  to  the  American  col- 
onies. Two  have  preached  for  some  time  in  Virginia : 
Mr.  Pilmoor  and  Mr.  Williams.  I  have  never  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Pilmooi',  but  by  all  I  can  learn, 
he  is  a  gracious  soul  and  a  good  preacher.  With  Mr. 
Williams  I  have  had  many  delightful  interviews.  He  has 
just  now  returned  to  my  house  from  a  long  excursion 
through  the  back  counties.  I  hope  he  will  be  able  to 
write  you  joyful  tidings  of  his  success.  But  after  all, 
what  can  two  or  three  preachers  do  in  such  an  extended 
country  as  this  ?  Cannot  you  do  something  more  for 
us?  Cannot  you  send  us  a  minister  of  the  Church  of 
England,  to  be  stationed  in  that  one  vacant  parish  I 
have  mentioned  ?  In  all  probability  he  would  be  of 
great  service.     The  parish  I  am  speaking  of  is  about 

'  See  Ms  "Brief  Narration,"  addressed  to  Wesley  through  Eankin. 
Asbury's  Journals,  aano  1776. 
3  Letter  in  Arm.  Mag.,  1786,  p.  397. 


184  HISTORY    OF    THE 

forty  miles  from  me.  The  people  are  anxious  to  hear 
the  truth.  Tlie  parishes  arouucl  it  aftbril  a  wide  field  of 
itineration ;  for  I  would  have  no  minister  of  Jesus,  as 
matters  now  stand,  confined  to  the  limits  of  one  parish. 
!Mr.  A.  M'Koberts,  the  gentleman  referred  to  above,  is 
an  Israelite  indeed.  He  is  a  warm,  zealous,  striking 
preacher.  lie  is  constantly  making  excursions  toward 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  in  the  Xorth  and  Xorth-east, 
while  I  make  a  tour  of  the  parishes  lying  to  the  South 
and  South-east.  Now  if  we  had  one  to  take  his  station 
forty  miles  to  the  West,  we  should  be  able  to  go  through 
the  country.  I  flatter  myself  it  will  be  so.  I  shall  wait 
with  expectation  till  I  am  favored  with  an  answer  from 
you.  I  trust  it  will  be  such  an  answer  as  will  rejoice  my 
heart  and  the  hearts  of  thousands." 

He  gratefully  acknowledges  that  in  the  counties  of 
Sussex  and  Brunswick  "the  work,  from  the  year  1V73, 
was  chiefly  carried  on  by  the  labors  of  the  people  called 
Methodists."  He  that  year  received  Williams  to  his 
house  and  his  church.  "  I  earnestly  recommended  it  to 
my  Societies,"  he  says,  "  to  pray  much  for  the  prosperity 
of  Sion,  and  for  a  larger  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
They  did  so ;  and  not  in  vain.  We  have  had  a  time  of 
refreshing  indeed :  a  revival  of  religion,  as  great  as  per- 
haps ever  was  known  in  country  places  in  so  short  a  time. 
In  almost  every  assembly  might  be  seen  signal  instances 
of  divine  power,  more  especially  in  the  meetings  of  the 
classes.  Here  many  old  stout-hearted  sinners  felt  the  force 
of  truth,  and  their  eyes  were  open  to  discover  their  guilt 
and  danger.  The  shaking  among  the  dry  bones  was  in- 
creased from  week  to  week  ;  nay,  sometimes  ten  or  twelve 
have  been  deeply  convinced  of  sin  in  one  day.  Some  of 
these  were  in  great  distress,  and  when  they  were  ques- 
tioned concerning  the  stateof  their  souls  were  scarce  able 


""~T 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.         185 

to  make  any  reply  but  by  weeping  and  falling  on  their 
knees  before  all  the  Class,  and  earnestly  soliciting  the 
prayers  of  God's  people.  Numbers  of  old  and  gray- 
headed,  of  middle-aged  persons,  of  youth,  yea,  of  little 
children,  were  the  subjects  of  this  work.  Some  of  these 
children  speak  of  the  whole  process  of  the  work  of  God, 
of  their  convictions,  the  time  when,  and  the  manner  how, 
they  obtained  deliverance,  with  such  clearness  as  might 
convince  an  atheist  that  this  is  nothing  else  but  the  great 
power  of  God.  Many  in  these  parts  who  had  long  neg- 
lected the  means  of  grace  now  flocked  to  hear,  not  only 
me  and  the  traveling  preachers,  but  also  the  exhorters 
and  leaders.  And  at  their  meetings  for  prayer  some 
have  been  in  such  distress  that  they  have  continued 
therein  for  five  or  six  hours.  It  has  been  found  that 
these  prayer-meetings  were  singularly  usefiil  in  pro- 
moting the  work  of  God.  The  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
which  began  here  soon  extended  itself,  more  or  less, 
through  most  of  the  circuit,  which  is  regularly  attended 
by  the  traveling  preachers,  and  which  takes  in  a  circum- 
ference of  between  four  and  five  hundred  miles.  And 
the  work  went  on,  with  a  pleasing  progress,  till  the  be- 
ginning of  May,  when  they  held  a  quarterly  meeting  at 
B.'s  chapel,  in  my  parish.  This  stands  at  the  lower  line 
of  the  parish,  thirty  miles  from  W.'s  chapel,  at  the  upper 
line  of  it,  where  the  work  began.  At  this  meeting  one 
might  truly  say,  the  windows  of  heaven  were  opened  and 
the  rain  of  divine  influence  poured  down  for  more  than 
forty  days.  The  work  now  became  more  deep  than 
ever,  extended  wider,  and  was  swifter  in  its  operations. 
Many  were  savingly  converted  to  God,  and  in  a  very 
short  time  not  only  in  my  parish,  but  through  several 
parts  of  Brunswick,  Sussex,  Prince  George,  Lunenburg, 
Mecklenburg,  and  Amelia  Counties." 


186  HISTORY    OF    THE 

It  will  be  observed  that  this  pious  rector  not  only  re- 
ceived the  Metliodists,  but  adopted  many  of  their  peculiar 
methods.  We  shall  meet  him  again  in  the  course  of  our 
narrative  and  find  him  long  a  fiiithful  colaborer  of  the 
itinerants  in  Virginia.  Williams  formed,  in  1774,  the  old 
Brunswick  Circuit,  extending  from  Petersburg  into  North 
Carolina,  the  first  reported  in  Virginia.  Jarratt  request- 
ed that  his  parish  might  be  included  in  this  circuit,  that 
"  all  who  chose  it  might  have  tlie  ])rivilege  of  meeting  in 
Class  and  of  being  members  of  the  Society."  He  soon 
"  saw  the  salutary  effects.  Many  that  had  but  small  desires 
before  began  to  be  much  alarmed,  and  labored  earnestly 
after  eternal  life.  In  a  little  time  numbers  were  deeply 
awakened,  and  many  tasted  of  the  pardoning  love  of 
God.  In  a  few  months  he  saw  more  fruit  of  his  labors 
than  he  had  for  many  years.  And  he  went  on  with  the 
preachers,  hand  in  hand,  both  in  doctrine  and  discipline." 

This  good  work,  the  result  as  much  of  the  Catholic  co- 
operation of  the  rector  as  of  the  labors  of  the  itinerants, 
continued  down  to  1775,  when  Shadford  had  cliarge  of 
the  circuit.  lie  reported  no  less  than  "two  thousand 
six  hundred  and  sixty-four  persons  in  the  Societies;  to 
whom  eighteen  hundred  were  added  in  one  year.  Above 
a  thousand  of  these  had  found  peace  with  God,  many  of 
whom  tliirsted  for  all  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ.  And 
divers  believed  God  had  '  circumcised  their  heart  to  love 
him  with  all  the  heart  and  with  all  the  soul.'  The  re- 
viv.al  spread  through  fourteen  counties  in  Virginia ;  and 
through  Bute  and  Halifax  Counties  in  North  Carolina." 

In  the  absence  of  Williams,  on  his  visit  to  Jarr.att, 
Watters  was  prostrated  with  nervous  fever,  and  for  some 
time  he  seemed  suspended  between  life  and  death.  It 
tested  and  proved  his  faith.  Coming  forth  from  the  at- 
tack he  exclaims,  "  O  what  inexpressible  desires  did  I 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        187 

feel  to  devote  the  remnant  of  my  days  to  the  honor  of  God, 
who  had  done  great  thmgs  for  such  a  poor  worm!"  He 
returned  to  his  home  after  an  absence  of  eleven  months, 
in  which  he  had  been  thoroughly  initiated  into  the  hard- 
ships and  triumphs  of  the  itineranc3\  He  met  Asbury  for 
the  first  time,  and  journeyed  on  horseback  with  him  some 
miles ;  Rankin  also  came  across  his  path,  and  he  saw  in 
these  apostolic  men  the  highest  models  of  ministerial 
character. 

At  the  Conference  of  1773,  which  he  did  not  attend, 
he  was  appointed,  as  we  have  seen,  with  John  King,  to 
New  Jersey ;  but  neither  of  them  traveled  that  long  cir- 
cuit ;  another  native  preacher  was  to  take  his  place 
there.  Watters's  sickness  had  detained  him  away,  and 
Rankin  altered  his  appointment  to  Kent,  on  the  East- 
ern Shore  of  Maryland.  The  young  itinerant  again  took 
afiecting  leave  of  his  home,  and  rode  forth  on  his  evan- 
gelical adventures.  "  On  my  way,"  he  says,  "  I  felt  a 
humiliating  sense  of  my  littleness  of  faith,  and  my  unprof- 
itableness in  the  Lord's  vineyard ;  and,  from  my  inmost 
soul,  promised  him  that  I  would  set  out  afresh  both  to 
live  and  preach  the  Gospel,  and,  through  infinite  mercy, 
I  felt  a  divine  evidence  that  he  would  be  with  me  and 
bring  me  to  the  people  to  whom  I  was  going  in  the  ful- 
ness of  the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  peace.  In  this  cir- 
cuit, which  was  a  two  weeks'  one,  and  the  only  one  then 
between  the  two  bays,  I  continued  four  or  five  months 
with  greater  freedom  and  success  in  preaching  than  ever 
before.  Many,  in  different  places,  attended  our  meetings, 
and  I  had  one  invitation  after  another  into  new  neighbor- 
hoods. Though  I  had  but  a  few  places,  when  I  first  went 
into  the  circuit,  in  a  short  time  I  Avas  not  able  to  go 
through  them  all  in  two  weeks,  and  before  I  left  it  the 
circuit  might  have  been  readily  enlarged  to  four  weeks. 


188  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Many  vrere  awakened  and  soundly  converted,  and  we  had 
as  powerful  times,  for  the  number  of  people,  as  I  have 
generally  seen.  I  was  much  blest  in  ray  own  soul,  and 
confirmed  in  my  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Day 
and  night  the  salvation  of  the  people  was  uppermost  in 
my  mind.  Our  little  number  was  daily  increased,  and 
great  were  our  rejoicings  in  the  Lord  our  righteousness. 
ITie  prospect  was  such,  and  our  attachment  to  each 
other  so  great,  that  it  was  with  some  reluctance  I  re- 
turned home  in  the  forepart  of  the  spring  following." 

The  Eastern  Shore  was  thenceforth  to  be  a  "fruitful 
garden  of  Methodism."  At  the  next  Conference  "Kent" 
was  reported  in  the  Minutes  as  a  circuit,  the  first  formed 
on  the  Peninsul.o,  and  in  the  same  year  its  first  church, 
"  Kent  Meeting-house,"  was  erected.  The  chapel  rose 
amid  hubtility ;  the  timbers  prepared  for  it  were  carried 
away  at  night  and  burned ;  but  the  Society  persisted, 
and  at  last  entered,  with  prayer  and  praise,  their  humble 
temple.  It  has  since  been  known  as  "  Ilinson's  Chapel." 
"At  this  chapel,"  says  an  authority  familiar  with  the 
locality,  "  rests  the  dust  of  John  Smith,  the  first  itine- 
rant that  came  into  the  work  from  Kent  county,  Md. 
Here,  also,  sleep  the  remains  of  the  Christian  philosopher, 
William  Gill,  who  with  his  fingers  closed  his  ovm  eyes  as 
he  was  sinking  into  the  long  sleep  of  the  grave  ;  and  were 
it  said  that  he,  while  yet  able,  preached  his  own  funeral 
sermon,  we  should  receive  it  as  characteristic  of  this  man, 
who  w.is  so  fully  freed  from  the  fear  of  death.  It  would 
seem  that  the  first  Society  in  Kent  was  formed  in  the 
beginning  of  1773,  and  that  it  was  in  the  neighborhood  of 
the  present  Rinson's  Chapel ;  nor  does  it  appear  that  there 
was  more  than  one  Society  at  this  time  in  the  county."* 
On  retiring  from  the  Eastern  Shore,  Watters  labored, 
«  Lednum,  p.  127. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        189 

till  the  next  Conference,  in  Baltimore  and  its  vicinity. 
His  success  was  not  remarkable  there,  but  he  passed 
through  inward  experiences  which  tended  to  fit  him  for 
his  future  career.  "  I  did  not,"  he  says,  "  find  that  life, 
power,  and  liberty  in  my  ministrations  as  among  the 
people  I  had  left  on  the  other  shore.  I  frequently  found, 
to  my  great  grief,  that  my  religion  was  too  superficial, 
and  that  though  sin  did  not  reign  in  me,  yet  it  remained 
and  marred  my  happiness.  I  often  mourned,  wept, 
fasted,  prayed,  and  truly  longed  to  be  sanctified  through- 
out soul,  body,  and  spirit,  that  I  might  be  able  to  serve 
the  Lord  without  interruption."  He  was  still  seeking 
for  that  "  deep  recollection  and  constant  communion  with 
the  Lord  which  nothing  for  a  moment  should  interrupt." 

Such  was  William  Watters,  the  first  of  the  thousands, 
the  tens  of  thousands,  of  American  Methodist  itinerants 
who  have  spread  the  Gospel  over  the  North  American 
continent ;  a  man  fervent  in  spirit,  prudent  in  counsel, 
indefatigable  in  labor,  saintly  in  piety. 

Another  native  preacher,  destined  to  become  noted  in 
the  Church,  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1773,  though  his 
name,  Philip  Gatch,  does  not  appear  in  the  Minutes  till 
the  next  Conference.  As  Watters  had  failed  to  reach  his 
appointment  in  New  Jersey,  Gatch  was  now  called  out 
by  Rankin  to  supply  it. 

Philip  Gatch  is  one  of  the  most  admirable  characters 
in  early  Methodist  history,  a  founder  of  the  denomination 
in  both  the  East  and  the  West,  and  worthy  to  have  been 
commemorated  by  the  pen  of  a  public  citizen  who  himself 
was  worthy  to  be  esteemed  the  most  eminent  lay  Meth- 
odist of  the  United  States.^ 

He  was   born   near   Georgetown,  Md.,  in   the   same 

5  Sketch,  of  Eev.  Philip  Gatch.   Prepared  by  Hon,  John  M'Lean,  LL.D., 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.     Cincinnati.     1854. 


190  KISTOEY    OF    THE 

year  as  "Walters,  1751  ;  they  began  their  public  labors  as 
Exhorters  the  same  year,  and  they  were  the  first  two 
native  Methodist  preachers  reported  in  the  "  Minutes." 
They  were  remarkably  similar  also  in  character,  being 
early  and  deeply  susceptible  of  religious  impressions,  a 
fact  that,  perhaps,  more  than  any  other,  is  the  pledge  of 
an  upright  life,  of  conscientious  decision  of  character,  and 
of  distinguished  usefulness.  "  I  learned  to  read,"  he  says, 
"  when  quite  young,  took  delight  in  my  books,  especially 
those  which  gave  a  history  of  the  times  of  pious  persons. 
A  sister  older  than  myself  used  to  watch  over  me  with  a 
tender  regard.  I  recollect  at  one  time,  on  using  a  bad 
word,  the  meaning  of  which  I  hardly  knew,  she  reproved 
me  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  a  deep  and  lasting  im- 
pression on  my  feelings.  My  conscience  was  quick  and 
tender,  and  I  felt  the  evil  of  sin,  and  endured  great  pain 
of  soul  on  account  of  it.  I  seldom  omitted  my  prayers, 
and  strove  to  make  my  mind  easy  with  the  forms  of 
religion  ;  but  this  availed  but  little.  Sinful  acts  in  general 
I  hated.  I  feared  the  Lord,  and  had  a  great  desire  to 
serve  him  ;  but  knew  not  how.  All  was  dark  and  dreary 
around  me,  and  there  was  no  one  in  the  neighborhood 
who  possessed  religion.  Priests  and  people  in  this 
respect  were  alike."  In  his  seventeenth  year  a  dangerous 
illness  alarmed  his  conscience.  "  The  suVyects  of  death 
and  judgment,"  he  writes,  "rested  upon  ray  mind.  I 
determined  to  try  a  course  of  self-denial.  I  resolved  to 
break  down  the  carnal  mind  by  crucifying  the  flesh  with 
its  lusts  and  affections.  I  found  this  course  to  be  of  great 
service  to  me.  All  this  time  I  had  not  heard  a  Gospel 
sermon.  I  had  read  some  of  the  writings  of  the  Society 
of  Friends,  and  had  a  great  desire  to  attend  their  meet- 
ings, but  had  not  the  opportunity.  I  fdt  that  I  had  lost 
my  standing  in  the  Established  Church  by  not  performing 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        191 

the  obligations  of  my  induction  into  it,  and  this  was  a 
source  of  great  distress  to  me.  I  desired  rest  to  my  soul, 
but  had  no  one  to  take  me  by  the  hand  and  lead  me  to 
the  fountain  of  life.  Indeed  from  a  child,  the  Spirit  of 
grace  strove  with  me ;  but  great  was  the  labor  of  mind 
that  I  felt,  and  I  did  not  know  the  way  to  be  saved  from 
my  guilt  and  wretchedness.  It  pleased  God,  however, 
to  send  the  Gospel  into  our  neighborhood,  in  January, 
1772,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Methodists. 
Previous  to  this  time  Robert  Strawbridge  had  settled 
between  Baltimore  and  Fredericktown,  and  under  his 
ministry  three  others  were  raised  up,  Richard  Owen, 
Sater  Stephenson,  and  Nathan  Perigau.  Nathan  Perigau 
was  the  first  to  introduce  Methodist  preaching  in  the 
neighborhood  where  I  lived.  He  possessed  great  zeal, 
and  was  strong  in  the  faith  of  the  Gospel.  I  was  near 
him  when  he  opened  the  exercises  of  the  first  meeting  I 
attended.  His  prayer  alarmed  me  much ;  I  never  had 
witnessed  such  energy  nor  heard  such  expressions  in 
prayer  before,  I  was  afraid  that  God  would  send  some 
judgment  upon  the  congregation  for  my  being  at  such  a 
place.  I  attempted  to  make  my  escape.  I  was  met  by 
a  person  at  the  door  who  proposed  to  leave  with  me; 
but  I  knew  he  was  wicked,  and  that  it  would  not  do  to 
follow  his  counsel,  so  I  returned.  The  sermon  was  ac- 
companied to  my  understanding  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  I 
was  stripped  of  all  my  self-righteousness.  It  was  to  me  as 
filthy  rags  when  the  Lord  made  known  tome  my  condition. 
I  saw  myself  altogether  sinful  and  helpless,  while  the 
dread  of  hell  seized  my  guilty  conscience.  Three  weeks 
from  this  time  I  attended  preaching  again  at  the  same 
place.  My  distress  became  very  great;  my  relatives 
were  all  against  me,  and  it  was  hard  to  endure  my 
father's  opposition." 


192  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Nathan  Perigau  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the 
Local  Preachers  who  were  now  co-operating  with  Straw- 
bridge  in  Maryland.  Gatch,  after  five  or  six  weeks  of 
profound  anguish,  heard  him  again,  and  was  "  confounded 
under  the  word."  The  early  Methodists  were  singularly 
exact  in  the  matter  of  conversion,  and  the  cotemporary 
memoirs  abound  in  grateful  commemorations  of  dates  in 
their  spiritual  history.  Philip  Gatch  records  that  "  on 
the  2Gtl»  of  April  I  attended  a  ]>rayer-mceting.  After 
remaining  some  time,  I  gave  up  all  hopes,  and  left  the 
house.  I  felt  that  I  was  too  bad  to  remain  where  the 
people  Were  worshiping  God.  At  length  a  friend  came 
out  to  me,  and  reipiested  me  to  return  to  the  meeting; 
believing  him  to  be  a  good  man  I  returned  with  him, 
and,  under  the  deepest  exercise  of  mind,  bowed  myself 
before  the  Lord,  and  said  in  my  heart.  If  thou  wilt  give 
me  power  to  call  on  thy  name  how  thankful  will  I  be ! 
Immediately  I  felt  the  power  of  God  to  affect  me,  body 
and  soul.  I  felt  like  crying  aloud.  God  said,  by  his 
Spirit,  to  my  soul,  '  My  power  is  present  to  heal  thy 
Boul,  if  thou  wilt  but  believe.'  I  instantly  submitted  to 
the  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  my  poor  soiil  was 
Bet  at  liberty.  I  felt  as  if  I  had  got  into  a  new  world. 
I  was  certainly  brought  from  hell's  dark  door,  and  made 
nigh  unto  God  by  the  blood  of  Jesus.  I  was  the  first 
person  known  to  shout  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
A  grateful  sense  of  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God 
to  my  poor  soul  overwhelmed  me.  I  tasted,  and  saw 
that  the  Lord  was  good.  Two  others  found  peace  the 
same  evening,  which  made  seven  conversions  in  the 
neighborhood.  I  returned  home  happy  in  the  love  ot 
Go.l." 

His  father  had  threatened  to  drive  him  from  his  home, 
and  the  young  convert  now  expected  a  harsh  reception. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        198 

"  There  is  your  elder  brother,"  the  father  had  said  to  him 
in  his  deep  contrition,  "  he  has  better  learning  than  you  : 
if  there  is  anything  good  in  it  why  does  he  not  find  it 
out  ?"  But  this  elder  brother  was  "  powerfully  convert- 
ed" at  the  same  meeting  with  young  Gatch,  and  the 
father  was  now  disarmed  of  his  opposition.  The  brothers 
introduced  family  prayers  immediately  into  the  house- 
hold, and  Philip  Gatch's  first  exhortation  was  at  the 
altar  of  his  home.  "The  Lord  blessed  me,"  he  says, 
"  with  a  spirit  of  prayer,  and  he  made  manifest  his  power 
among  us.  I  rose  from  my  knees  and  spoke  to  them 
some  time,  and  it  had  a  gracious  effect  upon  the  family. 
Thenceforward  we  attended  to  family  prayer." 

They  soon  had  Perigau  preaching  in  the  house.  Classes 
were  formed ;  Gatch's  parents,  most  of  their  children,  a 
brother-in-law  and  two  sisters-in-law,  were,  in  a  few 
weeks,  recorded  among  the  class-members.  "  The  work 
was  great,  for  it  was  the  work  of  God."  One  of  Rob- 
ert Williams's  cheap  publications — Wesley's  Sermon  on 
Salvation  by  Faith — led  young  Gatch  into  a  knowledge 
of  the  deeper  things  of  God,  and  while  attending  family 
worship,  "  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,"  he  writes,  "  came  down 
upon  me,  and  the  opening  heavens  shone  around  me.  By 
faith  I  saw  Jesus  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father.  I 
felt  such  a  weight  of  glory  that  I  fell  with  my  face  to  the 
floor,  and  the  Lord  said  by  his  Sj)irit,  'You  are  now 
sanctified,  seek  to  grow  in  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit.'  Gal. 
V,  22,  23.  This  work  and  the  instruction  of  Divine  truth 
were  sealed  on  my  soul  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  My  joy  was 
full.  This  was  in  July,  a  little  more  than  two  months 
after  I  had  received  justification." 

Thus  he  "  was  taken  fully  into  the  school  of  Christ, 
and  was  being  trained  for  the  duties  and  sufferings  that 
awaited  him  as  a  pioneer-laborer  in  the  extensive  fields 
A— 13 


194  HISTORY    OF    THE 

that  were  already  whitening  to  the  harvest  in  the  colo- 
nies of  Xorth  America." 

In  the  latter  part  of  1772  Philip  Gatcli  was  abroad,  a 
zealous  Exhorter;  he  had  formed  "a  humble  circuit"  of 
three  appointments  beyond  the  Pennsylvania  line.  In 
the  following  year  he  preached  his  tirst  sermon  at  "  Ev- 
ans's Meeting-house,  the  oldest  Society  of  Baltimore 
county."  At  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in  that  county  Rankin 
met  him,  and,  commissioning  him  as  a  traveling  preacher, 
sent  him  off  to  '*  the  Jerseys,"  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa- 
sioned by  the  absence  of  Watters.  "  I  found  it,"  he  says, 
*'a  severe  trial  to  part  with  my  parents  and  friends.  My 
feelings  for  a  time  got  the  ascendency ;  it  was  like  break- 
ing asunder  the  tender  cords  of  life,  a  kind  of  death  to 
me,  but  I  dared  not  to  look  back.  He  that  will  be  Clirist's 
disciple  must  forsake  all  and  follow  him.  I  met  Mr.  Kan- 
kin  according  to  appointment.  Mr.  Asbury  lay  sick  at 
the  place  of  meeting.  lie  called  for  me  to  his  room,  and 
gave  me  such  advice  as  he  thought  suitable  to  my  case. 
lie  was  well  fitted  to  administer  to  my  condition,  for 
he  had  left  father  and  mother  behind  when  he  came  to 
America." 

The  humble  but  successful  John  King,  first  Methodist 
preacher  in  Baltimore,  had  been  appointed  with  Watters 
to  Xew  Jersey.  lie  now  met  Gatch  to  introduce  him 
to  his  new  field  and  his  untried  life.  John  King  was 
prompt  and  energetic,  pausing  not  for  ceremonious  atten- 
tions. "In  company  with  Mr.  King,"  says  Gatch,  "I 
crossed  the  Delaware.  He  preached  and  held  a  love- 
feast.  On  the  following  morning,  he  pursued  his  journey, 
leaving  me  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land."  King  was 
immediately  away  to  distant  regions,  and  Gatch  was  now 
alone  in  the  whole  state,  as  a  ministerial  representative  of 
Methodism,  a  stripling  of  twenty-one  years,  of  small  stat- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        195 

ure  and  very  youthful  appearance,  the  first  preacher  sent 
as  a  regular  itinerant  to  New  Jersey.  "  Three  considera- 
tions," he  says,  "  rested  on  my  mind  with  great  weight : 
first,  my  own  weakness;  secondly,  the  help  that  God 
alone  could  afibrd  ;  and,  thirdly,  the  salvation  of  the 
souls  of  the  people  to  whom  I  was  sent.  The  Lord 
was  with  me,  and  my  labors  on  the  circuit  were  crowned 
with  some  success.  Not  many  joined  at  that  time  to  be 
called  by  our  name,  for  it  was  very  much  spoken  against. 
Fifty-two  united  with  the  Church,  most  of  whom  pro- 
fessed religion.  Benjamin  Abbott's  wife  and  three  of 
her  children  were  among  the  number.  David,  one  of  the 
children,  became  a  useful  preacher.  Though  I  found  the 
cross  to  be  very  heavy  while  serving  the  circuit  in  my 
miperfect  manner,  when  I  was  called  to  part  with  the 
friends  for  whom  I  had  been  laboring  I  found  it  to  be  a 
great  trial,  for  we  possessed  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
bond  of  peace."  He  continued  in  this  extensive  field  tiU 
the  Annual  Conference  of  1774. 

About  the  year  1773  another  notable  evangelist  ap- 
peared in  New  Jersey,  who,  though  he  was  not  yet 
recorded  in  the  Minutes,  equaled  his  itinerant  brethren 
in  labors  if  not  in  travels.  The  name  of  Benjamin  Abbott 
has  already  been  cited ;  in  our  day  that  name  is  inscribed 
on  a  monument  under  the  shadow  of  a  Methodist  Church 
in  Salem,  N.  J.,  one  of  the  principal  scenes  of  his  useful- 
ness ;  thousands  of  Methodists  have  visited  it  in  devout 
pilgrimage,  and  thousands  will,  as  long  as  the  denomina- 
tion lasts,  pondering  the  wonders  of  his  strangely  event- 
ful life.  Benjamin  Abbott  became  one  of  the  most 
memorable  men  of  early  Methodism.  He  was  thoroughly 
original,  unique  in  mind  and  character;  religious  biog- 
raphy hardly  records  his  fellow  except  in  the  story  of  the 
"  evangelical  tinker"  and  "  glorious  dreamer  "  of  Bedford 


196  •         HISTORY    OF    THE 

jnril.  Like  Banyan,  he  had  a  rude,  robust,  but  holy  soul, 
profound  in  the  mysteries  of  spiritual  life ;  a  temperament 
deeply  mystic  and  subject  to  marvelous  ex})eriences  which 
baffle  all  scientific  explanation,  unless  we  resort  to  the 
doubtful  solutions  of  clairvoyance  and  somnambulism.  He 
was  a  great  dreamer,  and  his  "  visions  of  the  night," 
recorded  with  unquestionable  honesty,  were  often  verified 
by  the  most  astonisliing  coincidences.  He  was  an  evan- 
gelical Hercules,  and  wielded  the  word  as  a  rude  irresist- 
ible club  rather  than  a  sword.  His  whole  so\il  seemed 
pervaded  by  a  certain  magnetic  power  that  thrilled  his 
discourses  and  radiated  from  his  person,  drawing,  molt- 
ing, and  fre(juently  prostrating  the  stoutest  opposers  in 
his  congregation.  It  is  probable  that  no  Metliodist  la- 
borer of  his  day  reclaimed  more  men  from  abject  vice. 
He  seldom  preached  without  visible  results,  and  his  pray- 
ers were  overwhehning. 

Like  Bunyan,  his  early  life  had  been  riotously  wicked. 
He  first  api>ears  as  an  ajiprentice  in  Philadelj>]iia,  "  where," 
he  says,  "  I  soon  fell  into  bad  company,  and  from  that  to 
card-playing,  cock-fighting,  and  many  other  evil  practices. 
]Sry  master  and  I  parted  before  my  time  was  out,  and  T 
went  into  Jersey,  and  hired  with  one  of  my  brothers,  where 
I  wrought  at  plantation  work.  Some  time  after  this  I 
married,  and  when  I  got  what  my  father  left  me  I 
rented  a  farm,  and  followed  that  business.  All  this  time 
I  had  no  fear  of  him  before  my  eyes,  but  lived  in  sin 
and  open  rebellion  ag.ainst  God,  in  drinking,  fighting, 
swearing,  ganibling,  etc.;  yet  I  worked  hard  and  got  a 
comfortable  living  for  my  family."'  The  moral  sense, 
however,  seldom  dies  out,  even  in  the  rudest  and  most 

•  Experience  and  Gospel  Labors  of  the  Rev.  Benjamii  Abbott.  To 
•which  i.-i  annexed  a  Narrative  of  his  Life  and  Death.  B7  John  Firth. 
Kew  York.     1^51. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,        197 

reckless  souls ;  and  no  fact  is  more  clearly  shown,  in  the 
history  of  the  success  of  Methodism  among  the  common 
people,  than  that  the  most  apparently  reprobate  men, 
the  drunken,  blasphemous,  uproarious  leaders  of  the  mobs 
which  so  frequently  opposed  the  early  itinerants,  have 
borne,  even  in  scenes  of  outrageous  hostility,  sensi- 
tive, trembling  consciences ;  deep,  hidden  chords  of  moral 
susceptibility  which,  touched  by  the  right  appeal,  have 
responded  with  the  finest  delicacy  of  religious  feeling. 
God,  who  has  made  all  men  for  immortality,  has  left  none 
without  the  faculty,  the  instinct  even,  for  religion. 
Scores,  if  not  hundreds,  of  boisterous  opposers,  stricken 
by  the  preaching  of  Abbott,  bowed  in  tears  before  him, 
ready  to  kiss  his  feet.  He  knew  how  to  address  them,  for 
he  had  been  one  of  them ;  and  while  yet  himself  in  vice, 
he  "  went,"  he  says,  "  often  to  meeting,  and  many  times 
the  Spirit  of  God  alarmed  my  guilty  soul  of  its  danger ; 
but  it  as  often  wore  off  again.  Thus  I  continued  in  a 
scene  of  sin  until  the  fortieth  year  of  my  age ;  yet  many 
were  the  promises  I  made,  during  that  period,  to  amend 
my  life,  but  all  to  no  purpose  ;  they  were  as  often  broken 
as  made  ;  for  as  yet  I  never  had  heard  the  nature  of  con- 
viction or  conversion  :  it  was  a  dark  time  respecting 
religion,  and  little  or  nothing  was  ever  said  about  experi- 
mental religion  ;  and  to  my  knowledge  I  never  had  heard 
either  man  or  woman  say  that  they  had  the  pardon- 
ing love  of  God  in  their  souls,  or  knew  their  sins  were 
forgiven.  My  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  praying  woman;  yet  at  that  time  she 
knew  nothing  about  a  heart-work." 

Waking  and  sleeping,  his  strong  soul  was  struggling 
against  itself  The  truths  that  he  resisted  by  day  over- 
whelmed him  in  the  dreams  of  the  night.  Coming  out 
of  one  of  these   visions,    "  I  awoke,"   he   writes,    with 


198  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"  amazement  at  what  I  had  seen,  and  conchided  that  I 
should  shortly  die,  which  brought  all  my  sius  before  me, 
and  caused  me  to  make  many  promises  to  God  to  repeut, 
which  lasted  for  some  time;  but  this  wore  oft*  again,  and 
I  went  to  my  old  practices."  Reports  of  a  Methodist 
preacher  reach  him ;  he  goes  to  hear  him,  and  returns 
"  thinking  of  his  misspent  life  ;"  "in  a  moment,"  he  says, 
"all  my  sius  that  lever  had  committed  were  brought  to 
my  view  ;  I  saw  it  was  the  mercy  of  God  that  I  was  out 
of  hell,  and  promised  to  amend  my  life  in  future.  I  went 
home  under  awful  sensations  uf  a  future  state  ;  my  convic- 
tions increased,  and  I  began  to  read  my  Bible  with  atten- 
tion, and  saw  things  in  a  ditVerent  light  from  what  I  had 
ever  seen  them  before,  and  made  many  promises  to  God, 
with  tears  and  groans,  to  forsake  sin  ;  but  I  knew  not  the 
way  to  Christ  for  refuge,  being  ignorant  of  the  nature  both 
of  conviction  and  conversion.  But  blessed  be  God,  he 
still  gave  me  light,  so  that  the  work  was  deepened  in 
my  soul  day  by  day.  The  preacher  catne  to  preach  in 
our  neighborhood,  and  I  went  to  hear  him  again  ;  it  being 
a  new  thing  in  the  place  many  came  together  to  hear  him. 
The  word  reached  my  heart  in  such  a  maimer  that  it 
shook  every  joint  in  my  body  ;  tears  flowed  in  abundance, 
and  I  cried  out  for  mercy,  of  which  the  people  took 
notice,  and  majiy  were  melted  into  tears.  When  the 
sermon  was  over,  the  people  flocked  around  the  preacher 
and  began  to  dispute  with  him  about  principles  of  relig- 
ion. I  said  that  there  never  was  such  preaching  as 
this  ;  but  the  people  said,  '  Abbott  is  going  mad.'  " 

And  now,  as  with  Bimyan,  ensued  a  struggle  with  du 
spair  itself;  "  Satan  suggested  to  me  that  my  day  of  grace 
was  over ;  therefore  I  might  pray  and  cry,  but  he  was 
sure  of  me  at  last."  In  passing  through  a  lonely  wood  at 
night,  he  was  tempted  to  commit  suicide ;  but  while  looking 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        199 

for  a  suitable  place  for  the  deed,  he  was  deterred  by  an  in- 
ward voice,  which  said,  "this  torment  is  nothing  compared 
to  hell."  This  was  logic  too  clear  to  be  resisted ;  he  forth- 
with mounted  his  wagon,  and  believing  the  tempter  to 
be  immediately  behind  liim,  drove  home  "  under  the 
greatest  anxiety  imaginable,"  with  his  hair  "  rising  on 
his  head."  His  mind  had  evidently  become  morbid  under 
its  moral  sufferings.  His  dreams  that  night  were  appall- 
ing ;  the  next  day,  seeking  relief  in  the  labors  of  the  field, 
his  "ti'oubled  heart  beat  so  loud  that  he  could  hear  the 
strokes."  He  threw  down  his  scythe  and  "  stood  weeping 
for  his  sins."  Such  is  the  reclaiming,  the  sublime 
strength  of  conscience  in  the  rudest  soul  when  once 
awakened.  This  "  strong  man  armed  "  in  his  vices,  ig- 
norant, boisterous,  and  dreaded  among  his  neighbors, 
but  now  standing  in  the  solitude  of  the  field  "  weeping 
for  his  sins,"  was  a  spectacle  for  men  and  angels.  "  I 
believe,"  he  adds,  "  I  could  not  have  continued  in  the 
body  had  not  God  moderated  the  pain  and  anxiety  I 
was  in,  but  must  have  expired  before  the  going  down 
of  the  sun."  He  flew  to  the  end  of  his  field,  fell  upon 
his  knees,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  prayed  aloud. 
Hastening  the  same  day  to  a  Methodist  meeting,  "  I  went 
in,"  he  writes,  "  sat  down,  and  took  my  little  son  upon 
my  knee ;  the  preacher  began  soon  after.  His  word 
was  attended  with  such  power  that  it  ran  through  me 
from  head  to  foot ;  I  shook  and  trembled  like  Belshaz- 
zar,  and  felt  that  I  should  cry  out  if  I  did  not  leave 
the  house,  which  I  determined  to  do,  that  I  might  not 
expose  myself  among  the  people  ;  but  when  I  attempted 
to  put  my  little  son  down  and  rise  to  go,  I  found 
that  my  strength  had  failed  me,  and  the  use  of  my 
limbs  was  so  far  gone  that  I  was  utterly  unable  to  rise. 
Immediately  I  cried  aloud,   Save,  Lord,  or  I  perish ! 


200  HISTORY    OF    THE 

But  before  the  preacher  concluded,  I  refrained  and  wi})ed 
my  eyes ;  my  heart  gave  way  to  shame,  and  I  was  tempted 
to  wish  I  was  dead  or  could  die,  as  I  had  so  exposed 
myself  that  my  neighliors  and  acquaintance  would  laugh 
at  and  despise  me.  When  meeting  was  over  I  thought 
to  speak  to  the  preacher,  but  such  a  crowd  got  round 
him,  disj>utiiig  points  of  doctrine,  that  I  could  not  conven- 
iently get  an  opportunity.  That  evening  I  set  up  family 
prayer,  it  being  the  first  time  I  ever  had  attempted  to 
pray  in  my  family.  My  wife,  being  a  strict  Presbyterian, 
was  a  praying  woman,  and  much  pleased  with  having 
family  prayer,  so  that  she  proved  a  great  helj»  to  ine 
and  endeavoreil  to  encourage  me  in  my  duty;  although, 
dear  creature,  at  that  time  she  knew  nothing  of  experi- 
mental religion." 

Thus  did  this  rough  but  earnest  soul  struggle  as  ni 
"  the  hour  and  power  of  darkness."  The  next  day,  ac- 
companied by  his  sympathetic  wife,  he  went  more  than 
ten  miles  to  a  Methodist  assembly ;  he  ajtpealetl  to  the 
itinerant  for  counsel  and  comfort,  asking  to  be  baptized, 
hoping  it  would  relieve  his  distress,  for  he  had  yet  no 
idea  of  justification  by  faith.  "Are  you  a  Quaker?" 
asked  the  preacher.  "  No,"  he  replied,  "  I  am  nothing 
but  a  poor,  wretched,  condemned  sinner,"  and  burst 
into  tears.  The  preacher  comforted  him  with  the  prom- 
ises of  the  Gospel.  "lie  then  said  I  was  the  very  man 
that  Christ  died  for,  or  he  would  not  have  awakened 
me.  That  it  was  the  lost  Christ  came  to  seek,  and  the 
greatest  of  sinners  he  came  to  save,  and  commanded  me 
to  believe."  That  night  (the  11th  of  October,  1772,  for 
he  is  minute  in  such  memorable  dates)  he  awoke  from 
terrible  dreams  and  saw,  as  in  a  vision  of  faith,  the 
Lord  Jesus,  with  extended  arms,  saying,  "I  died  for 
you."     He  wept  and  adored  God  with  a  joyful  heart. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       201 

"  At  that  moment,"  he  says,  "  the  Scriptures  were  won- 
derfully oj^ened  to  my  understanding.  My  heart  felt  as 
light  as  a  bird,  being  relieved  of  that  load  of  guilt  which 
before  had  bowed  down  my  spirits,  and  my  body  felt  as 
active  as  when  I  was  eighteen,  so  that  the  outward  and 
inward  man  were  both  animated."  He  rose,  and  calling 
up  the  family,  expounded  the  Scriptures  and  prayed,  and 
then  set  off  to  spend  the  day  in  telling  his  neighbors 
what  God  had  done  for  him.  He  had  singular  rencounters 
before  night.  "  While  I  was  telling  them,"  he  writes, 
"  my  experience,  and  exhorting  them  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  some  laughed  and  others  cried,  and  some 
thought  I  had  gone  distracted.  Before  night  a  report  was 
spread  all  through  the  neighborhood  that  I  was  raving 
mad."  Rustic  polemic  discussions,  imputations  of  self- 
deception  and  madness,  met  him  on  every  hand.  A 
neighboring  clergyman  tried  laboriously  to  deliver  him 
from  the  "strong  delusions  of  the  devil."  The  honest 
man  was  becoming  perplexed.  "  It  was  suggested  to  my 
mind,"  he  says,  "  he  may  be  right."  "  But,"  he  adds,  "  I 
went  a  little  out  of  the  road,  and  kneeled  down  and  prayed 
to  God  if  I  was  deceived  to  undeceive  me ;  and  the  Lord 
said  to  me,  'Why  do  you  doubt?  Is  rjt  Christ  all- 
suflicient  ?  is  he  not  able  ?  Have  you  not  felt  his  blood 
applied?'  I  then  sprang  upon  my  feet  and  cried  out, 
not  all  the  devils  in  hell  should  make  me  doubt ;  for  I 
knew  that  I  was  converted :  at  that  instant  I  was  filled 
with  unspeakable  raptures  of  joy." 

Benjamin  Abbott  had  thus  placed  his  feet  securely  in 
"  the  path  of  life."  He  had  reached  it  indeed  through 
darkness  and  terrors,  stumbled  into  it,  it  may  be  said, 
through  errors,  morbid  agitations,  if  not  temporary  in- 
sanity ;  but  had  evidently  attained,  at  last,  the  funda- 
mental truth   of  the   Reformation  and  of  Christianity^ 


202  HISTORY    OF    THE 

justification  by  faith  ;  and  he  now  and  henceforth,  till  his 
last  hour,  stood  out  in  the  light,  with  unshakable  stead 
fastness,  on  this  rock  of  divine  truth,  a  saved,  a  consecra- 
ted, a  triumphant  man. 

He  was  soon  to  be  tested  by  one  of  the  severest  trials, 
one  that  touched  his  tendcrest  Christian  affections,  and 
which  was  associated  with  an  example  of  those  mysteri- 
ous workings  of  his  strange  mind  that  startle  us  so  much 
in  his  autobioirraphy  ;  but  his  simple  faith  and  good 
sense  saved  him.  "  Toward  the  dawn  of  day,"  he  says, 
"  in  a  dream  I  thought  I  saw  the  preacher,  under  whom 
I  was  awakened,  dnnik  and  playing  cards,  with  his  gar- 
ments all  detilc'd  with  dirt.  When  I  awoke  and  found  it 
a  dream  I  was  glad,  although  I  still  felt  some  uneasiness 
on  his  account.  In  about  three  weeks  after  I  heard  that 
the  i»oor  unfortunate  preacher  had  fallen  into  sundry 
gross  sins,  and  was  expelled  from  the  Methodist  connec- 
tion. The  tidings  of  his  fall  filled  me  with  such  distress 
that  I  wandered  about  like  a  lost  sheep  with  these  reflec- 
tions:  If  the  head  is  thus  fallen  what  will  become  of  me, 
or  what  combats  may  1  have  with  the  devil  ?  At  length, 
when  in  ]>rayer,  under  sore  temptation,  almost  in  despair, 
a  new  thougSt  was  impressed  on  my  mind,  that  I  must 
not  trust  in  the  arm  of  flesh,  for,  '  Cursed  is  he  that  put- 
teth  his  trust  in  the  arm  of  flesh.'  I  then  saw  that  my 
salvation  did  not  depend  on  his  standing  or  falling;  I 
had  to  stand  for  myself,  and  to  give  diligence,  through 
grace,  to  save  my  own  soul ;  that  my  soul  must  answer 
at  the  bar  of  God  for  my  own  deeds." 

The  fact  here  referred  to  has  the  peculiar  and  painful 
interest  of  being  the  first  instance  of  apostasy  that 
dishonored  the  struggling  ministry  of  Methodism  in 
the  new  world ;  its  first  case  of  expulsion.  The  name 
of  Abraham  Whitworth  appears  in  the  list  of  the  little 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        203 

band  of  itinerants  reported  in  the  appointments  of  the  first 
Methodist  Conference.  He  was  an  Englishman,  and  had 
labored  faitlifully  with  his  countrymen  Webb,  Asbury, 
and  Shadford,  in  New  Jersey,  during  the  year  1772. 
His  eloquence  was  powerful,  and  his  usefulness  extraor- 
dinary. It  was  under  his  ardent  ministrations  that  Ab- 
bott had  been  saved.  He  subsequently  preached  with 
continued  success  on  both  the  Eastern  and  Western 
Shores  of  Maryland.  While  on  the  Kent  Circuit  he  fell 
by  intemperance,  and  fell  apparently  to  rise  no  more. 
"  Alas  for  that  man  !"  wrote  Asbury,  when  the  sad  news 
reached  him,  "  he  had  been  useful,  but  was  puffed  up, 
and  so  fell  into  the  snare  of  the  devil."  Years  later, 
when  Asbury  first  heard  Abbott  preach,  he  wrote,  "  here 
I  find  remains  the  fruit  of  the  labor  of  that  now  miser- 
able man  Abraham  Whitworth ;  I  fear  he  died  a  back- 
slider." The  last  trace  we  can  discover  of  the  fate  of 
the  unfortunate  man  is  in  the  report  of  "  the  old  Method- 
ists," that  he  entered  the  British  army  to  fight  against 
the  country  and  was  probably  killed  in  battle.''' 

Abbott  now  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Bible, 
and  to  "exhort  all  that"  he  "had  any  intercourse  with." 
He  tells  the  story  of  his  daily  life  with  entertaining  nai- 
vete and  honesty.  The  Scriptures  "  were  wonderfully 
opened"  to  him.  In  his  sleep  texts  occurred  to  his  mind, 
with  divisions  and  applications,  and  he  woke  up  preach- 
ing from  them.  His  good  wife  checked  him,  saying 
"  you  are  always  preaching ;"  "  however,"  he  adds,  "  it 
caused  her  to  ponder  these  things  in  her  heart.  I  saw 
that  if  ever  I  should  win  her  to  Christ  it  must  be  by 
love,  and  a  close  walk  with  God  ;  for  I  observed  that  she 
watched  me  closely."  He  soon  won  her;  Philip  Gatch 
arrived;  she  was  converted  after  hearing  him  preach, 
7  Lednum,  p.  129. 


204  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  when  Abbott  returned  home  he  met  her  at  the  door 
with  tears  of  joy  in  her'eyes.  "We  embraced  each  other," 
he  says,  "  and  she  cried  out,  '  Now  I  know  what  you  told 
me  is  true,  for  the  Lord  hath  pardoned  my  sins.'  We  had 
a  blessed  meeting ;  it  was  the  happiest  day  we  had  ever 
seen  together.  '  Now,'  said  she,  '  I  am  willing  to  be  a 
Methodist  too ;'  from  that  time  we  went  on,  hand  and 
hand,  helping  and  building  each  other  up  in  the  Lord. 
These  were  the  beginning  of  days  to  us.  Our  cliildren 
also  began  to  yield  obedience  to  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
course  of  about  three  months  after  my  wife's  conversion 
we  had  six  children  converted  to  God." 

From  "exhorting"  he  at  last  began  to  preach;  his 
first  sermon  was  over  the  coffin  of  a  neighbor.  Ilis  word 
was  now  uniformly  "  with  power ;"  the  sturdiest  sinners 
trembleil,  or  escaped  in  alann  from  his  mongrel  assemblies. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  natural  courage,  and  though  there 
was  an  unction  of  habitual  tenderness  and  humility  in 
his  manners,  often  revealing  itself  in  tears,  yet  woe  to  the 
man  who  dared  in  his  presence  to  treat  religion  with  rid- 
icule or  irreverence.  His  indignant  exhortations  over- 
whelmed and  swi'pt  before  him  any  such  oftl'iidcr.  He 
was  an  example  of  what  the  evangelical  historians  report 
of  the  apostolic  ministry :  "  Now  when  they  saw  the 
boldness  of  Peter  and  John,  and  perceived  that  they  were 
unlearned  and  ignorant  men,  they  marveled ;  and  they 
took  knowledge  of  them,  that  they  had  been  with  Jesus." 
On  one  of  his  walks  of  prayer  and  exhortatir)n  he  met  an 
old  friend,  who  invited  him  to  dinner.  He  went,  and 
when  they  were  about  sitting  down  at  the  table  he  pro- 
posed to  ask  a  blessing ;  as  soon  as  he  began  two  jour- 
neymen burst  out  laughing:  "at  which,"  he  says,  "I 
arose  and  began  to  exhort  them  all  in  a  very  rough  man- 
ner, thundering  out  hell  and  damnation  against  the  un- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       205 

godly  with  tears  in  my  eyps.  This  broke  up  dinner,  and 
neither  of  us  eat  anything."  But  a  young  woman  pres- 
ent was  much  affected,  and  entreated  him  to  visit  her 
mother ;  the  honest  man  went,  palpitating  with  his  holy 
indignation,  but  was  soon  in  a  hapjDier  mood.  "  The  old 
lady,"  he  writes,  "  and  I  fell  into  conversation.  She  was 
a  pious  Moravian.  I  was  truly  glad  that  I  had  found  a 
witness  for  Jesus.  She  knew  that  God,  for  Christ's  sake, 
had  freely  forgiven  her  sins.  We  had  a  comfortable  time 
in  conversing  together  on  the  things  of  God.  She  told 
me  that  I  was  the  first  person  she  had  met  with,  in  that 
place,  who  could  testify  that  his  sins  were  forgiven.  I  left 
her,  with  strong  impressions  on  my  mind,  to  preach  the 
Gospel."  "  On  one  occasion  while  I  was  sj^eaking  with 
great  zeal,"  he  continues,  "  and  exclaiming  against  the 
various  abominations  of  the  people,  and  pointing  out  their 
enormous  sins,  I  cried  out,  '  For  aught  I  know  there  may 
be  a  murderer  in  this  congregation !'  Immediately  a 
lusty  man  attempted  to  go  out,  but  when  he  got  to  the 
door  he  bawled  out,  and  stretched  out  both  his  arms  and 
ran  backward,  as  though  some  one  had  been  before  him 
pressing  on  him  to  take  his  life,  and  he  endeavored  to 
defend  himself  from  the  attack,  until  he  got  to  the  far  side 
of  the  room,  and  then  falling  backward  against  the  wall 
lodged  on  a  chest,  and  cried  out  very  bitterly,  and  said, 
'  He  was  the  murderer,  for  he  had  killed  a  man  about 
fifteen  years  before.'  Thus  he  lay  and  cried  with  great 
anguish  of  soul.  This  surprised  me  so  much  that  I  stop- 
ped preaching;  the  people  were  greatly  alarmed,  and 
looked  on  the  man  with  the  utmost  astonishment.  After 
a  short  pause,  I  went  on  again  and  finished  my  discourse. 
The  man,  who  was  in  this  wonderful  manner  wrought 
upon,  recovered  himself  and  went  away,  and  I  never  have 
seen  or  heard  of  him  since." 


L_. 


206  HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  Society  was  now  fomied  in  his  neighborhood,  he 
becoming  its  Class-Leader ;  it  was  soon  inchidod  in  the 
circuit,  and  Mctliodism  was  permanently  established  in 
that  region.  Abbott  spread  it  out  in  all  directions.  He 
broke  up  the  ground  around  him  for  fifteen  miles.  He 
worked  for  his  livelihood  on  week-days,  held  prayer  and 
Class-meetings  at  night,  and  preached  on  Sundays.  No 
itinerant  in  New  Jersey  did  more  to  found  securely  the 
denomination  in  the  State.  He  was  its  first  ]\Iethodist 
convert  that  preached  the  Gospel.  Asbury  said,  "he  is 
a  man  of  uncommon  zeal,  and  of  good  utterance;  his 
words  come  with  great  jiower."  We  shall  have  occasion 
to  follow  him  hereafter  in  his  extending  labors  and  sur- 
prising successes. 

Still  another  native  preacher  began  his  labors  in  1773, 
though  his  name  was  not  recorded  in  the  list  of  Confer- 
ence appointments  till  the  following  year.  Daniel  Ruff 
was  converted  in  Harford  County,  Maryland,  in  the  great 
religious  excitement  which  prevailed  in  that  and  in  Balti- 
more Counties  during  1771.  The  next  year  his  house, 
near  Havre  de  Grace,  became  a  "preaching-place"  for 
the  itinerants,  and  the  year  following  Ruff  himself  became 
noted  as  an  exhorter  and  local  preacher,  warning  his 
neighbors  to  "  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  bringing 
many  of  them  to  the  Saviour."®  He  was  a  man  of  ster- 
ling integrity,  gre.at  simplicity,  and  remarkable  useful- 
ness. Asbury,  visiting  his  neighborhood,  March  4,  1774, 
rejoiced  over  his  success,  and  preached  on  the  appropri- 
ate text,  "  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things  for  us, 
whereof  we  are  glad."  "  Honest,  simple  Daniel  Ruff," 
he  wrote,  "  has  been  made  a  great  blessing  to  these  peo- 
ple. Such  is  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God  that  he  has 
wrought  marvelously  by  this  plain  man  that  no  flesh  may 
*  Lednum,  p.  121. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        207 

glory  in  his  presence."  Joining  the  Conference  in  1774, 
Ruff  traveled  Chester  Circuit,  which  then  comprised  all 
the  Methodist  aj^pointments  in  the  State  of  Delaware  and 
in  Chester  County,  Pa.  He  labored  also  in  New  Jersey. 
Freeborn  Garrettson,  one  of  the  most  successful  preach- 
ers of  Methodism,  was  converted  after  hearing  one  of 
his  sermons,  and  Ruff  first  called  him  into  the  itineracy.^ 
Ruff  was  the  first  native  preacher  appointed  to  Wesley 
Chapel  in  New  York. 

Such  were  the  principal  native  evangelists  who  began 
to  appear  in  the  field  about  the  time  of  the  first  American 
Conference.  But  let  us  return  to  their  more  prominent 
fellow-laborers  from  whom  we  parted  at  that  humble  but 
memorable  session.  There  are  but  few  and  vague  remi- 
niscences of  their  labors,  but  they  are  too  precious  to  be 
lost. 

»  Wakeloy,  p.  25(5. 


208  HISTORY    OF    THE 


CHxVPTER  IX. 

PRINCIPAL    EVANGELISTS,   1773-1 '774. 

Rankin  after  the  Conference  —  Pilmoor  —  Boardman  —  Rankin  in  Mary- 
land—  A  Quarterly  Mti-ting  at  the  Wnttirs  Ili^nentead  —  Departure 
of  Pilmoor  —  Karikin  in  New  York  —  Shadford  in  New  York  —  His 
Character  and  Usefulness  —  Asbury  in  ilurjlund  —  Exaltation  of 
Ills  Spirit — Baltimore  —  Otterbein  —  Gennan  Methodi«!n  —  "  United 
Brethren  in  Christ"  —  Sketoh  of  their  History  —  Death  of  Otterbein 
—  Boehm  and  Giietin)?  —Otterbein  and  Asbury's  Poetry  :  Note —  Ad- 
vancement of  Methodism  in  Murj-land  —  New  Chapels  —  Wrijifht  in 
Virjjinia  —  Its  first  two  Chapels  —  Williams  in  Virjjinia  —  Old  Brans 
wick  Circuit  —  Jarratt  —  Josso  Loe  —  Frcobom  Garrettson. 

Of  llie  lultor.s  of  the  jiriiifipal  ovaiii^t'lists  during  the  ec- 
clesiastical year  following  the  Conference  of  1773  we 
have  but  scanty  intimations ;  enough,  however,  to  show 
that  they  resuincd  their  work  with  a  strong  conscious- 
ness that  it  had  now  become  an  established  fact  in  the 
religious  history  of  the  country ;  that,  being  organized 
and  put  under  the  rigorous  military  discipline  of  "Wesley, 
it  was  destined  to  deepen  and  widen,  and  assume  the 
same  importance  which  Methodism  had  acquired  in  the 
parent  land.  They  went  forth  therefore  to  their  circuits 
with  the  increased  zeal,  not  to  say  enthusiasm,  which 
such  confidence  was  suited  to  inspire ;  "  with  a  full  reso- 
lution," wrote  Rankin,  "to  sjiread  genuine  Methodism 
in  public  and  in  private  witli  all  our  might." 

Rankin  and  Shadford  were  appointed,  as  we  have  seen, 
respectively  to  Philadelphia  and  Xew  York,  but  were 
to  exchange  during  tlie  year.  Rankin's  spirit  glowed 
with  renewed  ardor  as  he  closed  the  Conference.  "  For 
some  days  past,"  he  wrote,  "  I  have  felt  the  Redeemer's 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        209 

presence  in  a  most  sensible  manner ;  I  want  more  life, 
light,  and  love;  I  want  to  be  entirely  devoted  to  God, 
and  to  walk  before  him  as  Enoch  and  .Vliraham  did." 
Pilmoor,  thongh  withont  an  appointment,  lingered  with 
him  some  time  in  Philadelphia.  On  the  last  Sunday  of 
the  month  of  the  Conference  (July  29,  1773)  Rankin 
writes :  "  I  preached  at  the  nsual  hours,  morning  and 
evening,  and  afterward  met  the  Society.  In  some  good 
degree  this  has  been  a  Sabbath  of  rest  to  my  soul. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  for  all  his  mer- 
cies !  I  long  to  be  holy  in  life  and  in  all  manner  of  con- 
versation. I  was  assisted  by  the  labors  of  Mr.  Pilmoor 
the  ensuing  week,  having  returned  from  a  journey  in  the 
country.  He  preached  with  more  life  and  divine  power 
this  week  than  he  has  done  since  I  landed  at  Philadel- 
phia. Blessed  be  God  that  he  is  returning  to  the  sim- 
plicity of  spirit  that  made  him  so  nseful  when  he  first 
came  over  to  America !  Whatever  we  lose,  let  us  never 
lose  that  simplicity  which  is  attended  with  life,  light, 
love,  and  power  from  on  high.  If  ever  a  Methodist 
preacher  loses  this  temper  the  glory  is  departed  from 
him." 

Pilmoor  continued  to  assist  him,  both  in  Philadelphia 
and  New  York,  down  to  the  end  of  December.  Success 
attended  their  efforts,  and  the  spirit  of  Rankin  rose  with 
his  labors.  His  "  soul  intensely  breathed  after  full  con- 
formity to  the  blessed  God."  "  O  how  I  long,"  he 
wrote,  "  to  see  the  work  of  God  break  out  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left !"  Though  superintendent  of  the 
whole  American  field,  he  gave  faithful  attention  to  the 
local  and  particular  interests  of  the  Societies,  "  visiting 
all  the  classes"  while  in  New  York.  Boardman  was 
there  to  aid  him  in  October.  On  Sunday,  10th,  when 
about  to  leave  the  city,  he  records  that  Boardman 
A— 14 


210  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"  preached  this  morning,  and  I  in  the  evening.  I  found  a 
measure  of  liberty,  but  abundantly  more  in  the  love-feast 
which  followed.  The  Lord  did  sit  as  a  refiner's  fire  on 
many  hearts.  I  would  fain  hope  that  he  is  reviving  his 
work  in  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Indeed,  from  the  test- 
imony of  many  this  evening,  I  had  reason  to  believe 
that  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  was  better  to  us  than 
all  my  fears.  I  hear  no  particular  complaint  of  any 
member ;  and  I  find  several  have  of  late  found  peace 
with  God,  while  others  are  greatly  stirred  up  to  seek  all 
the  mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus.  I  also  gave  notes 
of  admission  to  several  new  members.  My  own  ^o^d 
breathed  after  entire  conformity  to  her  living  head.  My 
cry  wa.>j,  'Give  me,  O  Lord,  constant  union  and  deep 
fellowship  with  thee.  O  let  me  bear  the  image  of 
the  blessed  Jesus,  ainl  fill  ine  witli  all  the  fullniris  of 
God !' » 

He  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  in  tlie  latter  j  art  of 
the  month  set  out  southward.  At  the  beginning  uf  Xo- 
vember  he  was  holding  a  quarterly  meeting  at  the  Wat- 
ters  homestead.  The  regions  round  about  poured  out 
their  people  on  the  occasion.  "Such  a  st-ason,"  he  says, 
"  I  have  not  seen  since  I  came  to  America.  The  Lord 
made  the  place  of  his  feet  glorious.  The  shout  of  a  king 
was  heard  in  our  camp.  I  rode  to  IJush  Chnpel,  and 
preached  at  three  o'clock.  There  also  the  Lord  made 
bare  his  holy  arrji.  From  the  chajtel  I  rode  to  Dellam's, 
and  preached  at  six  o'clock,  and  we  concluded  the  day 
with  prayer  and  praise.  This  has  indeed  been  a  day  of 
the  Son  of  man.  To  thy  name,  O  Lord,  he  the  praise 
and  glory  I  Monday,  November  1 .  I  rode  to  Deer  Creek, 
and  preached  at  three,  and  afterward  met  the  Society. 
The  flame  of  divine  love  went  from  heart  to  heart,  and 
g:e:it  was  our  glorying  in  God  our  Saviour.     I  spent  the 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         211 

evening  in  praise  and  prayer  with  many  of  our  friends 
who  had  come  to  attend  the  quarterly  meeting.  Wednes- 
day, 3.  After  breakfast  we  finished  our  temporal  business, 
and  spent  some  time  with  the  local  preachers  and  stew- 
ards. At  ten  o'clock  our  general  love-feast  began.  It 
was  now  that  the  heavens  were  opened  and  the  skies 
poured  down  divine  righteousness.  The  inheritance  of 
God  was  watered  with  the  rain  from  heaven.  I  had  not 
seen  such  a  season  as  this  since  I  left  my  native  land. 
Now  it  was  that  the  Lord  burst  the  cloud  which  had  at 
times  rested  upon  my  mind  ever  since  I  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia. O  Lord,  my  soul  shall  praise  thee,  and  all  that 
is  within  me  shall  bless  thy  holy  name !  I  sincerely  hope 
that  many  will  remember  this  day  throughout  the  annals 
of  eternity." 

By  the  middle  of  December  he  was  again  in  Philadel- 
phia, where  Pilmoor  still  assisted  him.  On  Sunday,  the 
26th,  Pilmoor  "  preached  his  farewell  sermon,  and  we  con- 
cluded the  day  with  a  general  love-feast.  The  presence 
of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  was  in  the  midst,  and  many 
rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of  God.  Next  day 
he  set  off  for  New  York,  from  whence  Mr.  Boardman 
and  he  were  to  sail  for  England.  Yet  a  little  while  and 
we  shall  meet  to  part  no  more." 

In  March,  1774,  we  trace  Rankin  to  New  York,  still 
exulting  in  the  success  of  his  Avork.  On  the  6th  he 
writes  :  "  The  congregations  were  large,  and  the  presence 
of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  was  in  our  midst.  Surely  I 
shall  yet  have  pleasure  in  this  city  to  compensate  for  all 
my  pain.  I  went  through  the  duties  of  the  ensuing  week 
with  pleasure.  I  observed  that  the  labors  of  my  fellow- 
laborer,  Mr.  Shadford,  have  not  been  in  vain.  The  spirit 
of  love  seems  to  increase  among  the  peoj  le.  Sunday, 
May  22.  I  found  freedom  to  declare  the  word  of  the 


212  HISTOIiY    OF    THE 

Lord,  ami  I  trust  the  seed  sown  aviII  produce  some  fruit 
to  tlie  glory  of  God.  "We  concluded  the  evening  witli 
a  general  love-feast,  in  which  the  Lord's  presence  wa3 
powerfully  felt  by  many  persons.  Many  declared  with 
great  freedom  what  God  had  done  for  their  souls. 
Some  of  the  poor  black  people  spoke  with  power  and 
pungency  of  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord.  If  the  rich 
in  this  Society  were  as  much  devoted  to  God  as  the  poor 
are,  we  should  see  wonders  done  in  the  city.  Holy  Je- 
sus, there  is  nothing  impossible  with  thee." 

The  next  day  lie  was  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia,  "  to 
meet  the  brethren  in  our  second  little  Conference." 
Such  are  the  few  traces  I  can  discover  of  Rankin's  serv- 
ices din-ing  this  period,  Ilis  head-quarters  being  alter- 
nately in  I'hiladelphia  and  New  York,  did  not  limit  him 
to  those  cities ;  he  itinerated  not  only  between  them,  ex- 
changing every  four  months,  but  around  them  on  extens- 
ive circuits.  He  adopted  fully  Asbury's  views  of  the 
itinerancy,  not  only  enforcing  them  in  his  administration 
as  Wesley's  "  General  Assistant,"  but  exemplifying  them 
in  his  own  labors. 

Meanwhile  Shadford  began  his  work  for  the  ecclesias- 
tical year  in  New  York  with  an  ardor  equal,  if  not  supe- 
rior, to  that  of  Rankin.  He  had  a  soul  of  flame,  and  was 
singularly  effective  in  his  preaching.  "A  volume  might 
be  written,"  says  the  chronicler  of  John-street  Chapel, 
"  concerning  Mr.  Shadford.  He  had  a  great  harvest  of 
souls  in  America.'"  And,  again,  writes  the  same  author- 
ity, "  Most  powerful  revivals  accompanied  his  ministry. 
His  preaching  was  in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and 
with  power.  Moral  miracles  were  performed,  hell's  dark 
empire  shook,  and  victory  was  proclaimed  on  the  Lord's 
side.  He  was  a  very  sweet-spirited  brother,  and  the 
»  Wakeley,  chap.  25. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         213 

love  subsisting  between  him  and  Asbury  was  like  that 
between  Jonathan  and  David." 

Shadford,  though  a  courageous  preacher,   was   mod- 
est  even   to   diflSdence,   and   entered   New  York  with 
painful  self-distrust.     He  has  left  us  a  brief  record  of  his 
labors  there.     "  My  next  remove,"  he  says,  "  was  to  New 
York,  where  I  spent  four  months  with  great  satisfaction. 
I  went  thither  with  fear  and  trembling,  and  was  much 
cast  down  from  a  sense  of  my  unworthiuess  and  inability 
to  preach  the  Gospel  to  a  polite  and  sensible  people.    But 
the  Lord,  who  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  things  which  are  wise,  and  weak  things 
to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty,  condescended 
to  make  use  of  his  poor  weak  servant  for  the  revival  of 
religion  in  that  city.     I  added  fifty  members  in  those  four 
months,  about  twenty  of  whom  found  the  pardoning  love 
of  God,  and  several  backsliders  were  restored  to  their  first 
love.    A  vehement  desire  was  excited  in  the  hearts  of  be- 
lievers after  all  the  mind  of  Christ,  or  the  whole  image  of 
God.    I  left  in  New  York  two  hundred  and  four  members 
in  society."    Exchanging  with  Rankin,  he  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  says,  "  I  had  a  very  comfortable  time 
for  four  or  five  months  that  I  spent  with  a  loving,  teachable 
people.    The  blessing  of  the  Lord  was  with  us  of  a  truth, 
and  many  were  really  converted  to  God.     There  was  a 
sweet  loving  spirit  in  this  Society  ;  for  nothing  appeared 
among  them  but  peace  and  brotherly  love.   They  had  kept 
prayer-meetings  in  difierent  parts  of  the  city  for  some  time 
before  I  went  to  it,  which  had  been  a  great  means  of  beget- 
ting life  among  the  people  of  God  as  well  as  others."    He 
preached  in  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  left  it  at 
the  end  of  the  year,  with  two  hundred  and  twenty-four 
members  in  its  Society.     His  first  year's  labor  in  Ameri- 
ca had  added  nearly  two  hundred  to  the  Church,  "  while 


214  HISTORY    OF    TiIE 

hundreds  had  been  benefited  in  various  ways  under  his 
labors.'" 

With  his  usual  promptness  Asbury  was  in  the  saddle, 
on  the  last  day  of  the  Conference  of  IT 73,  leaving  Phila- 
delphia for  his  great  Baltimore  Circuit,  and  praying, 
"  3Iay  the  Lord  make  bare  his  holy  arm,  and  revive  his 
glorious  work  I"  He  preached  continually  on  his  route, 
and  the  next  week  writes,  "  My  soul  has  enjoyed  great 
peace  this  last  week,  in  which  I  have  rode  near  one 
hundred  mih-s  since  my  dei)arture  from  Philiidi'lpliia,  and 
have  preached  often,  and  sometimes  great  solemnity  has 
rested  on  the  congregations.  On  Tuesday  morning  my 
heart  was  still  with  the  Lord,  and  my  jieacc  flowed  as  a 
river.  Glory  be  given  to  God  !  On  Wednesday,  at  New 
Castle,  the  company  was  but  small,  though  great  power 
attCTided  the  wonl.  Perhaps  the  Lord  will  yet  visit  this 
peopU',  though  at  present  too  many  of  them  appear  to  be 
devoted  to  pride,  vanity,  and  folly."  He  soon  reached  his 
circuit,  for  it  comj^rehended  all  the  Societies  in  Maryland, 
and  nearly  half  the  Methodists  of  the  country.  On  August 
2d  he  held  a  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Joseph  Presbury's. 
"After  our  temporal  liusiness  was  done,"  he  says,  "I 
read  a  j»art  of  our  minutes,  to  see  if  Brother  Strawbridge 
would  conform,  but  he  appeared  to  be  inflexible.  He 
would  not  administer  the  ordinances  under  our  direction 
at  all.  Many  things  were  said  on  the  subject,  and  a  few 
of  the  people  took  part  with  him.  At  the  conclusion  of 
our  Quarterly  Meeting,  on  Tuesday,  we  had  a  comfortable 
season,  and  many  were  refreshed,  especially  in  the  love- 
feast.  On  Wednesday  I  set  out  for  Baltimore,  but  was 
taken  very  sick  on  the  road  ;  however,  I  pursued  my 
way,  though  it  was  sometimes  through  hard  rain  and 
heavy  thunder,  and  preached  in  Baltimore  on  Thursday, 
*Lednuin,  p.  112. 


METnODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         215 

in  Mrs.  Tribulet's  new  house,  wliich  she  freely  lent  for 
that  purpose.  There  appeared  to  be  a  considerable 
moving  under  the  word.  Many  people  attend  the  preach- 
ing in  Baltimore,  especially  after  we  have  been  long 
enough  in  town  for  the  inhabitants  to  receive  full  knowl- 
edge of  our  being  there;  and  I  have  a  great  hope  that 
the  Lord  will  do  something  for  the  souls  in  this  place, 
though  the  little  Society  has  been  rather  neglected,  foi 
want  of  proper  persons  to  lead  them.  I  went  to  Charles 
Harriman's,  and  settled  two  classes  in  that  neighborhood. 
While  preaching  there  the  Lord  favored  us  with  a  lively 
and  profitable  season.  My  mind  has  lately  been  much 
tortured  with  temptations  ;  but  the  Lord  has  stood  by 
and  delivered  me.  O,  my  God!  when  will  my  trials 
end  ?  At  death.  Lord,  be  ever  with  me,  and  save  me, 
or  my  soul  must  perish  at  last.  But  my  trust  is  still  in 
God,  that  he  will  ever  help  me  to  conquer  all  my  foes." 
Asbury  continued  his  travels  on  this  circuit  during  the 
ecclesiastical  year  with  no  little  success,  but  with  much 
physical  disability,  suffering  most  of  the  time  from  fever 
and  ague,  going  to  and  fro  among  his  twenty-four  ap- 
pointments, and  preaching  in  the  intermissions  of  his 
disease.  His  spirit  was  exalted  meanwhile  with  religious 
fervor,  "  The  spirit  of  holy  peace  reigns  in  my  heart," 
he  writes;  "  Glory  be  to  God  !"  "  My  soul  longs  for  all 
the  fullness  of  God.  When  shall  it  once  be  ?  When  shall 
my  soul  be  absorbed  in  piirity  and  love  ?"  "  My  soul 
longs  and  pants  for  God !"  "  Glory  to  God,  my  mind  is 
kept  in  sweet  peace,  and  deeply  engaged  in  every  duty." 
"  My  mind  has  been  much  stayed  in  God  for  some  time 
past,  and  my  body  has  felt  little  weariness,  though  on 
some  days  I  have  preached  four  times."  Such  are  the 
ever-recurring  phrases  of  his  Journals,  Occasionally, 
however,   he   records   deep   dejection,  the  effect  of  his 


216  HISTORY    OF    THE 

malady  and  of  the  peculiar  embarrassments  of  the  in- 
cipient condition  of  the  Societies  he  was  almost  every- 
where forming.  IJaltimore  itself  contained  about  this 
time  five  Churches,  Roman  Catholic,  E})iscopal  or  En- 
glish, Lutheran,  and  Quaker.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Otterbcin, 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  whose  name  occurs  frequently  in 
the  early  history  of  Methodism,  was  settled  over  a  new 
congregation,  partly  through  the  influence  of  Asbury, 
early  in  the  following  year.  Rev.  Mr.  Swoop,  whom 
Asbury  describes  as  "  a  good  man,"  was  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Chase  of  the  Episcopal  Churches. 
St.  Paul's,  in  which  the  latter  ministered,  was  built  in 
1744,  and  was  the  first  church  in  the  city.  Such  was  the 
ecclesiastical  status  of  the  town  of  Baltimore  at  this 
l>criod.*  The  first  Methodist  Chapel  was  not  yet  opened, 
but  was  begun.  In  the  last  week  of  November,  177;^, 
Asbury  writes:  "I  have  been  able  to  officiate  at  the 
town  and  Point  every  day,  and  the  congregations  rather 
increase.  Lord,  make  me  humble  and  more  abundantly 
useful ;  and  give  me  the  hearts  of  the  people  that  1 
may  conduct  them  to  thee  !  I  feel  great  hopes  that  the 
God  of  mercy  will  interpos.e,  and  do  these  dear  pcoj)le 
good.  This  day  we  agreed  with  Mr.  L.  to  undertake 
the  brick-work  of  our  new  building,  at  the  Point.  At 
night  I  was  seized  with  a  violent  fever ;  and  as  many 
of  my  friends  thought  it  improper  for  me  to  go  imme- 
diately into  the  circuit,  I  concluded  to  abide  for  a  season 
in  town.  Many  are  under  some  awakenings  here,  and 
they  are  very  kind  and  affectionate  to  me.  My  heart  is 
with  the  Lord.  He  is  my  all  in  all."  A  fortnight  later 
he  says  :  "  While  preaching  at  the  Point,  there  was  great 
solemnity  very  visible  in  the  congregation.  The  power 
of  God  was  eminently  present,  and  one  person  fell  under 
*  Bev.  Dr.  Coggefihall,  MS.  Life,  etc.,  of  Asbury,  chap.  8. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         217 

it.  Such  numbers  of  people  attended  to  hear  the  word 
to-day,  in  town,  that  we  knew  not  how  to  accommodate 
them."  Meanwhile  he  was  refreshed  with  good  news 
from  his  fellow-laborers.  "  Richard  Owen  informed  me 
that  the  work  of  God  was  gaining  ground  in  Frederick 
County.  My  soul  was  happy  in  God.  Brother  W. 
brought  good  accounts  from  the  country,  where  the  con- 
gregations are  large,  and  some  coming  to  the  Lord." 
He  begins  the  new  year  sick,  but  successful.  "  My  body 
has  been  indisposed  for  some  days  past ;  but  the  grace  of 
God  has  rested  on  my  soul,  and  I  have  been  enabled  to 
preach  several  times  with  freedom,  power,  and  great  bold- 
ness, the  Lord  being  my  helper.  Feeling  rather  better 
to-day,  I  ventured  to  ride  in  a  chaise  ten  miles.  Returned 
the  next  day,  and  continued  unwell — sometimes  being 
confined  to  my  bed  for  a  day  together  ;  yet  I  preached  at 
other  times  to  large  congregations.  It  frequently  appears 
as  if  almost  the  whole  town  would  come  together  to  hear 
the  word  of  the  Lord.  Surely  it  will  not  be  altogether 
in  vain.  The  Lord  giveth  me  great  patience,  and  all 
things  richly  to  enjoy,  with  many  very  kind  friends,  who 
pay  great  attention  to  me  in  my  affliction.  Among 
others,  Mr.  Swoop,  a  preacher  in  high  Dutch,  came  to 
see  me.  He  appeared  to  be  a  good  man,  and  I  opened  to 
him  the  plan  of  Methodism." 

Swoop  and  Otterbein  now  became  his  steadfast  friends. 
In  May,  17V4,  he  records  that  he  "  had  a  friendly  inter- 
course with  Mr.  Otterbein  and  Mr.  Swoop,  the  German 
ministers,  respecting  the  plan  of  Church  discipline  on 
which  they  intended  to  proceed.  They  agreed  to  imitate 
our  method  as  nearly  as  possible."  A  significant  allu- 
sion is  this,  foreshadowing  a  new  and  important  develop- 
ment of  Methodism  which  has  continued,  with  advancing 
prosperity,  to  our  day,  achieving  no  little  usefulness, 


218  HISTORY    OF    THE 

especially  among  the  German  population  of  the  Middle 
and  Western  States,  and  well  deserving  here  an  episod- 
ical notice  at  the  risk  of  some  delay  in  our  narrative. 

Otterbein  was  born  in  1V26,  at  Dillenburg,  Nassau,  on 
the  upper  Rhine.  The  son  of  pious  and  intelligent  par- 
ents, he  was  theologically  and  classically  educated,  and 
ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  German  Keformed  Church. 
In  1752  he  came  to  America.  In  the  then  wilderness 
region  of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  he  perceived,  in  his  solitary 
meditations,  tliat  there  was  a  higher  religious  life  than  he 
had  attained  or  been  taught,  and  he  became  a  regenerated 
and  sanctified  man.  His  new  faith  and  zeal  incurred  per- 
secution from  his  brethren,  and  he  was  jireduded  from 
some  of  their  pulpits.  Asbury  met  him  hi  Maryland,  and 
aided  liim  to  secure  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  new  Church 
in  IJaltimore.  lie  now  "  agreed  to  imitate  our  methods 
as  nearly  as  possible,"  and  soon  became  the  founder  of 
"The  United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  sometimes  called 
*'  The  German  Methodists."  His  zeal  was  ardent,  and  his 
preaching  eloquent,  clear,  and  persuasive.  He  held  spe- 
cial prayer-meetings,  a  custom  unknown  in  his  Church 
at  that  day.  "  The  opposition  from  his  own  brethren  con- 
tinued some  years;  but  amid  the  severe  contlict  he  stood, 
prophet-like,  firmly  resolving  to  follow  tlie  direction  of 
heaven.  Nor  was  he  suflferefl  long  to  stand  alone.  God 
was  pleased  to  call  to  his  help  3Iarlin  IJi^ehm,  George  A. 
Gueting,  Christopher  Grost,  Christian  Newcomer,  An- 
drew Zeller,  George  Pfeimer,  John  Neidig.  Joseph  Huff- 
man, Jacob  Bowlus,  and  other  holy  men.  The  purity 
and  simplicity  with  which  these  reformers  preached  the 
Gospel  induced  many  to  hear  the  word,  an<l  numbers 
became  tlie  happy  subjects  of  converting  grace.  Large 
meetings  were  appointed  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and 
Virginia.     Lutherans,  German   Reformed,  Mcnnonites, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        219 

and  others  came  together  with  one  accord.  Otterbein 
ardently  loved  the  Church  in  which  he  had  been  ordained, 
and  remained  in  its  communion  as  long  as  there  was  a 
prospect  of  his  usefulness ;  but  that  hope  at  last  vanished. 
The  synod  to  which  he  belonged  apparently  parted  with 
him  without  regret.  Thus  originated  the  '  United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ'  —  it  was  no  secession  from  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  Their  first  Conference  was  held  at 
Baltimore  in  the  year  1789,  the  following  preachers  being 
present:  William  Otterbein,  Martin  Boehm,  George  A. 
Gueting,  Christian  Newcomer,  Adam  Lohman,  John 
Ernst,  Henry  Weidner."* 

Asbury  and  his  Methodist  coadjutors  co-operated  har- 
moniously with  these  good  men.  Otterbein  assisted  Dr. 
Coke  in  the  episcopal  consecration  of  Asbury. 

The  German  brethren  increased  rapidly,  numerous 
Societies  were  formed,  and  in  1800  an  Annual  Conference 
assembled  in  Maryland.  Otterbem  and  Boehm  were 
elected  Superintendents,  or  Bishops,  of  the  infant  Church. 
"  Baltimore  was  the  home  of  Otterbein,  where  his  old  and 
honored  tabernacle  still  stands,  and  is  occupied  by  his 
successors  in  faith  and  labors.  From  increasing  years 
and  their  infirmities  he  was,  late  in  life,  unable  to  travel, 
but  his  mind  seemed  to  be  inspired  with  new  strength 
while  pleading  with  God  for  the  prosperity  of  his  people. 
His  soul  was  occupied  with  the  thought, '  Shall  the  work 
stand  and  endure  the  fiery  test?  and  will  it  ultimately 
prosper  after  my  departure  ?'  Shortly  before  his  death 
he  had  a  delightful  interview  with  his  brethren,  Newcomer 
and  Bowlus,  when  he  told  them,  'The  Lord  has  been 
pleased  graciously  to  satisfy  me  fully  that  the  work  will 
abide.'  Otterbein  was  large,  and  very  commanding  in 
his  personal  appearance,  with  a  prominent  forehead,  upon 
*  G.  P.  Disosway  to  the  author. 


220  HISTORY    OF    THE 

which  the  seal  of  the  Lord  seemed  to  be  plainly  impress- 
ed. His  Christian  kindness  and  benevolence  knew  no 
bounds,  and  all  he  received,  like  Wesley,  he  gave  away 
in  charities.  '  We  are  brethren,'  was  his  favorite  motto. 
During  twenty-six  years  he  resided  in  Germany,  and 
sixty-one  in  America;  the  latter  were  entirely  devoted  to 
preaching  Christ.  He  was  a  ripe  scholar  in  Latin,  Greek, 
Hebrew,  philosophy,  and  divinity.  Through  God's  bless- 
ing he  founded  the  Church  of  the  'United  Brethren  in 
Christ.'  Bishop  Asbury  thus  spoke  of  him  when  i)reach- 
ing  the  funeral  sermon  of  Martin  Boehm  :  '  Pre-eminent 
among  these  is  William  Otterbein.  He  is  one  of  the  best 
scholars  and  greatest  divines  in  America,  .  .  .  and  now 
his  sun  of  life  is  setting  in  brightness.  Behold  the  saint 
of  God  leaning  upon  his  staff,  waiting  for  the  chariots  of 
Israel.'  Of  the  three  earliest  fathers  of  the  '  United 
Ih-ethren  in  Christ,'  Martin  Boehm  was  permitted  to 
proclaim  Christ  until  within  a  short  time  before  his  death. 
His  last  illness  was  brief,  and,  raising  himself  on  his  dy- 
ing bed,  he  sung  a  verse,  praising  God  with  a  loud  voice, 
when  he  committed  his  soul  to  the  Redeemer  in  solemn 
prayer,  an<l  died  March  2,  1R12.  He  was  eighty-seven 
years  old,  fifty  of  wliich  had  been  devoted  to  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Cross.  He  gave  a  son  to  the  Methodist  itin- 
erancy, who  for  years  was  Asbury's  traveling  conij)anion, 
and  still  lingers,  a  patriarch  of  the  Church.  (George  A. 
Gueting  followed  him  to  the  reward  of  the  faithful  on 
the  2Sth  of  the  next  June.  His  sickness,  too,  lasted  but 
a  short  night  and  day.  Sensible  that  the  hour  of  his  de- 
liverance was  at  hand,  he  desired  to  be  taken  from  the 
dying  couch,  read  a  verse,  singing  it  with  a  clear  voice, 
and  then,  kneeling  by  his  bedside,  he  breathed  his  last 
prayer  and  bade  the  world  adieu,  in  the  full  triumph  of 
the  Christian  faith.     Forty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        221 

calling  sinners  to  rei^eutance.  William  Otterbein,  as  he 
was  the  first,  was  also  the  last  of  the  three,  for  he  fin- 
ished his  useful  and  holy  i^ilgrimage  on  the  l7th  of  No- 
vember, 1813,  aged  eighty-eight,  full  of  years  and  hojje 
of  a  glorious  immortality." 

On  receiving  word  of  his  death  Asbury  exclaimed, 
"  Is  Father  Otterbein  dead  ?  Great  and  good  man  of 
God  !  An  honor  to  his  Church  and  country ;  one  of  the 
greatest  scholars  and  divines  that  ever  came  to  America 
or  M'as  born  in  it.  Alas!  the  chiefs  of  the  Germans 
are  gone  to  their  rest  and  reward — taken  from  the  evil 
to  come."^ 

Following  from  the  beginning  some  of  the  special 
methods  of  Methodism,  the  "United  Brethren"  have  at 
last  grown  into  a  considerable  denomination,  quite  anal- 
agous  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  "  Their  six- 
teenth Annual  Conference  was  held  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
"Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  on  the  6th  of  June,  1815, 
when  they  adopted  a  discipline,  which  was  mainly  an 
abridgment  of  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
as  will  appear  from  the  facts,  that  they  have  Quarterly, 
Annual,  and  General  Conferences,  with  bishops,  presid- 
ing elders,  probation,  and  course  of  study,  the  foUow- 

s  Letter  of  Asbnry,  Nov.  1813. — He  was  one  of  Asbury's  most  confi- 
dential counselors  through  life.  "  We  have  no  doubt  that  to  Mr.  Otter- 
bein our  Bishop  was  indebted  for  much  good  counsel,  as  well  as  for 
example  and  encouragement.  One  anecdote,  which  has  probably  never 
been  published,  will  show  how  faithful  a  friend  the  good  German  was. 
Mr.  Asbury  wrote  a  good  many  verses,  though,  of  all  men,  he  would 
seem  to  have  been  least  susceptible  to  the  poetical  afflatus.  Some  of 
his  friends  were  anxious  that  he  should  publish,  but  before  giving  con- 
6,>nt  the  Bishop  consulted  his  friend  Otterbein.  The  old  gentleman 
read  the  manuscript,  and  when  Mr.  Asbury  came  for  his  opinion,  said, 
'Brother  Asbury,  I  don't  think  you  was  born  a  poet.'  The  Bishop  had 
the  good  sense  to  burn  the  papers,  and  our  Church  was  saved  from  a 
volume  of  inelegant  verse.  We  cannot  but  admire  the  faithfulness  of 
Otterbein  and  the  resolute  submission  of  Asbury." — Bait.  Ch,  Advocate. 


222  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  forming  a  part  of  the  course:  Wesley's  Sermons, 
"Watson's  Institutes,  Fletcher's  Appeal  and  Cliecks,  Pow- 
ell on  Apostolical  Succession,  Clark's  Theology,  etc.,  etc. 
The  duties  of  the  preacher  having  charge  of  the  circuit, 
the  questions  asked,  and  the  instructions  given, '  Be  seri- 
ous,' '  Never  be  unemitloyed,'  '  Never  trifle  away  your 
time,'  '  Converse  sparingly  ;  conduct  yourself  prudently 
with  women ;'  '  Yotir  business  is  to  save  as  many  souls 
as  possible,'"  etc.,  are  Methodistic.'^ 

In  our  day  the  "United  Brethren  in  Christ"  report  30 
Conferences,  nearly  1,300  Preachers,  more  than  82,000 
communicants,  nearly  900  chapels,  357  districts,  208 
missions,  about  1,300  Sunday-schools  with  50,000  schol- 
ars, a  university  named  after  Otterbein,  and  a  Book  Con- 
cern, with  three  periodical  publications.'' 

Asbury  then  was  doing  far-reaching  good  in  Maryland 
in  these  early  times.  Assisted  by  several  local  preachers 
and  e.vhorters,  he  kept  his  extensive  circuit  active  with 
interest,  and  such  was  his  success  that  by  the  end 
of  the  year  the  numlx^r  of  Methodists  in  his  So- 
cieties was  more  than  doubled,  being  1,063,  a  gain 
of  5G3.  At  a  Quarterly  Meeting  in  P'ebruary,  1774, 
the  large  field  was  divided  into  foiir  Circuits,  Balti- 
more, Baltimore  Town,  Frederick,  and  Kent;  and  eight 
laborers  were  designated  to  it.  No  less  than  five 
chapels  were  built  or  building  about  this  time,  two 
of  them  in  Baltimore,  one  at  the  Point,  and  the  other  in 
the  town  proper.  The  first,  on  Strawberry  Alley,  has 
already  been  noticed ;  the  second  was  on  Lovely  Lane, 
and  was  to  be  rendered  memorable  as  the  seat  of 
tlie  council  which  organized  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1784.     It  was  located  on  a  small  street,  which 

•  Letter  of  Rev.  Henry  Jones,  Wisconsin,  to  the  aathor. 
'  Schem's  "  Year-Book,"  pp.  34-3G. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    C  II  U  R  C  II.       223 

ran  east  and  west  between  Calvert  and  South  streets. 
The  location  was  a  good  one  at  the  time,  being  in  the 
center  of  a  large  population,  within  a  convenient  distance 
from  Baltimore-street,  and  about  a  square  and  a  half  from 
the  present  Light-street  Church,  which  sprung  from  it. 
Asbury,  previous  to  his  departure  northward,  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  new  building  on  the  18th  of  April,  and 
by  the  middle  of  October  the  house  was  so  far  finished 
that,  as  we  have  seen,  Captain  Webb,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  Baltimore,  preached  in  it.  In  March,  1775,  Asbury 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  it  completed,  and  on  the 
21st  of  May,  1776,  the  Conference  met  there,  for  the  first 
time  in  Baltimore.^  Asbury  left  at  least  thirty  Societies 
in  Maryland.  Preachers  and  exhorters  were  rising  up 
numerously  among  them.  The  denomination  had  struck 
its  roots  ineradicably  in  the  soil  of  the  state. 

Wright  had  been  successfully  at  work,  meanwhile,  in 
Virginia,  and  on  the  9th  of  May,  1774,  on  his  return,  he 
cheered  Asbury  with  good  news.  "  Mr.  Wright,"  he 
says,  "  arrived  to-day  from  Virginia.  He  gave  us  a  cir- 
cumstantial account  of  the  work  of  God  in  those  parts. 
One  house  of  worship  is  built,  and  another  in  contempla- 
tion ;  two  or  three  more  preachers  are  gone  out  upon  the 
itinerant  plan  ;  and  in  some  parts  the  congregations  con- 
sist of  two  or  three  thousand  people.  But  some  evil- 
minded  persons  have  opposed  the  act  of  toleration,  and 
threatened  to  imprison  him.  May  the  Lord  turn  their 
hearts  and  make  them  partakers  of  his  great  salvation  !" 
The  first  church  here  mentioned  became  fiimous  in  after 
years  as  "  Yeargon's  Chapel,"  the  first  Methodist  edifice 
in  Virginia ;  it  was  located  near  the  southern  line  of  the 
State,9  and  was  the  outpost  of  the  denomination,  at  this 
time,  for  the  further  South.  The  other  structure  was  in 
«  Kev.  Dr.  Hamilton  to  the  Author.  "  Lednum,  p.  117. 


224  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Sussex  County,  the  second  in  the  state,  well  known  as 
"  Lane's  Chapel." 

"Williams  also  traveled  in  Virginia  during  this  "  Con- 
ference year,"  having  been  appointed  to  Petersburg  Cir- 
cuit. It  extended  into  North  Carolina,  and  took  the 
title  of  Brunswick  Circuit  at  the  next  Conference,  a  name 
of  renown  in  the  early  Methodist  annals.  He  reported 
from  it  at  the  Conference  21 S  members.  About  a  year 
had  passed  since  his  first  introduction  to  Jarratt,  and  his 
hospitable  recei)tion  under  the  roof  of  the  good  rector  ; 
the  wide-spread  exoifemcnt  whirh  tlien  attended  his  labors 
had  continucfl  with  increasing  intensity.  "The  next 
year,  1774,  others  of  his  brethren,"  says  Jarratt,  "came 
and  gathered  many  Societies,  both  in  this  neighborhood 
and  in  other  places,  as  far  as  North  Carolina.  They  now 
began  to  ride  the  circuit,  and  to  take  care  of  the  Societies 
already  formed,  whirh  was  rendered  a  happy  means  both 
of  deepening  and  spreading  the  work  of  God."  Jarratt 
was,  ill  fine,  opening  the  way  for  ^lethodism  through 
the  Province.  "  I  am  persuaded,"  said  Asbury,  some 
years  later,  "  that  there  have  been  more  souls  convinced 
bj-   his   ministry   than    by   that   of  any   other    man    in 

irginia. 

It  was  about  the  present  time  that  an  important 
family,  converted  under  Jarratt's  ministry,  joined  the 
Methodists,  on  "Williams's  Circuit,  and  opened  their  house 
as  one  of  his  preaching  stations.  A  youthful  son  of  the 
household  was  preparing  to  become  one  of  the  chief- 
tains of  the  new  cause,  its  founder  in  the  New  England 
States,  and  its  first  historian.  Jesse  Lee  was  converted 
in  1773,  and  the  next  year  his  name  was  enrolled  among 
the  members  of  Williams's  Societies. '° 

About  the  same  time  another  young  man,  in  Maryland, 
">  Jesse  Lee's  Life  of  John  Lee,  p.  12. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH.        225 

was  struggling  with  his  awakened  conscience,  for  God 
was  summoning  him  to  eminent  services  in  the  Method- 
istic  movement.  "The  Spirit  of  the  Lord,"  he  says,  "at 
times  strove  very  powerfully  with  me,  and  I  was  fre- 
quently afraid  that  all  was  not  well  with  me,  especially 
when  I  was  under  Methodist  preaching.  To  these  people 
I  was  drawn ;  but  it  was  like  death  to  me,  for  I  thought 
I  had  rather  serve  God  in  any  other  way  than  among 
them,  while  at  the  same  time  something  within  would 
tell  me  they  were  right.  Being  amazingly  agitated  in 
mind,  I  at  length  came  to  this  conclusion,  to  give  up  my 
former  pursuits,  bend  my  mind  to  the  improvement  of 
my  worldly  pi'operty,  and  serve  God  in  a  private  manner. 
I  now  set  out  in  full  pursuit  of  business,  with  an  expecta- 
tion of  accumulating  the  riches  of  the  world."  "  But  one 
day,"  he  later  writes,  "  being  at  a  distance  from  home,  I 
met  with  a  zealous  Methodist  exhorter.  He  asked  me  if 
I  was  born  again  ?  I  told  him  I  had  a  hope  that  I  was. 
Do  you  know,  said  he,  that  your  sins  are  forgiven  ?  No, 
replied  I,  neither  do  I  expect  that  knowledge  in  this 
world.  I  perceive,  said  he,  that  you  are  on  the  broad 
road  to  hell,  and  if  you  die  in  this  state  you  will  be 
damned.  The  Scripture,  said  I,  tells  us  that  the  tree  is 
known  by  its  fruit ;  and  our  Lord  likewise  condemns  rash 
judgment.  What  have  you  seen  or  known  of  my  life  that 
induces  you  to  judge  me  in  such  a  manner  ?  I  pity  you, 
said  I,  and  turned  my  back  on  him ;  but  I  could  not 
easily  forget  the  words  of  that  pious  young  man,  for  they 
were  as  spears  running  through  me.""  Freeborn  Garrett- 
son's  mind  was  thus  irresistibly  directed  to  a  life  of  re- 
ligious self-sacrifice  and  labor,  which  have  rendered  his 
name  forever  memorable.  In  a  short  time  we  shall 
meet  him  again,  as  one  of  the  most  successful  itinerant 
»  Bangs's  Life  of  Garrettson,  p.  34. 

A— 15 


226  HISTORY    OP     TUE 

cbanipious  of  the  Methodistic  movement.  For  more 
than  ball"  a  century  the  record  of  liis  life  is  tc  be  sub- 
stantially a  history  of  his  denomination. 

In  the  Spring  of  1774  the  dispersed  itinerants  wended 
their  way  again  toward  Philadelphia  for  their  second 
Couference. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         227 


CHAPTER  X. 

CONFERENCE   AND    PROGRESS    OF    1774. 

The  Conference  of  1774  —  Rankin's  Disciplinary  Rigor  —  Asbury  — 
Watters  and  Gatch  —  Statistics  —  Progress  in  the  Middle  Colonies  — 
The  Itinerancy  —  Its  Effect  on  the  Ministry — Asbury's  Sufferings  and 
Labors  in  New  York  —  In  Philadelphia  —  In  Baltimore  —  Otterbein 

—  Williams's  Success  in  Virginia  —  Asbury  and  the  Revolution  — 
Perry  Hall  and  Henry  Dorsey  Gough  —  Rankin  at  Quarterly  Meetings 
in  Maryland  —  Shadford  in  Maryland  —  Remarkable  Incident  —  Rob- 
ert Lindsey  —  Edward  Dromgoole  —  Richard  Webster  —  Their  Success 

—  Philip  Gatch  on  Frederick  Circuit — Shadford's  Rule  for  Effective 
Preaching  —  Gatch  on  Kent  Circuit  —  Hostile  Rencounters  —  "  Parson 
Kain" — Gatch's  Success  —  He  returns  to  Frederick  Circuit — At- 
tacked by  Ruifians —  Enters  New  Jersey  —  Whitworth  and  Ebert  — 
Benjamin  Abbott  in  New  Jei'sey  —  An  Encounter  at  Deerfleld  — 
Sanctification  —  Abbott  in  Salem  —  His  Treatment  of  Diseased 
Minds  —  His  Success  —  Physical  Phenomena  of  Religious  Excitement 

—  John  King  and  Robert  Williams  in  Virginia  —  Jesse  Lee  —  Jarratt 

—  Great  Success  —  Additional  Missionaries  from  England  —  James 
Dempster  —  Martin  Rodda  —  William  Glendenning — Asbury  and 
Rankin. 

The  second  Conference  met  in  Philadelphia,  May  25, 
1774,  and  continued  till  Friday  the  27th.  The  disciplin- 
ary views  of  Rankin,  enforced  during  the  preceding 
year,  upon  the  preachers  and  Societies,  with  a  rigor  which 
seemed  to  some  of  them  hardly  tolerable,  had  produced 
salutary  elFects  generally,  as  evinced  by  the  growing 
efficiency  of  the  denomination,  and  an  unexpected  in- 
crease of  its  members.  It  had  been  regulated  and  con- 
solidated, and  now  presented  generally  an  attitude  of 
strength  which  gave  assurance  of  a  prosperous  future. 
Rankin  insisted  with  English  firmness,  if  not  obstinacy, 
that  the  method  of  procedure  established  in  the  British 


228  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Conference  should  be  rigorously  followed  by  the  present 
session.  The  principles  of  his  administration  were  good, 
and  necessary  for  the  infant  Church  ;  but  he  seems  to 
have  been  unhappy  in  his  official  manners.  He  had  not 
the  tact  of  Asbury  to  adapt  himself  to  the  free  and  easy 
spirit  of  the  Americans,  whose  democratic  colonial  train- 
ing had  thrown  off  punctiliousness  without  impairing 
their  energy  and  devotion  to  gerteral  order.  Even  As- 
bury hesitated  at  his  rigor,  but  was  conciliated  by  seeing 
bis  own  judgment  followed  in  detail,  though  "  stubbornly 
opposed "  at  6rst.  Errors  in  favor  of  discipline  were, 
however,  faults  which  Asbury  could  most  readily  forgive. 
"It  is,"  he  wrote,  "my  duly  to  bear  all  things  with  a 
meek  and  patient  spirit.  Our  Conference  was  attended 
•with  great  power  ;  and,  all  things  considered,  with  great 
harmony.  We  agreed  to  send  Mr.  Wright  to  England, 
and  all  acquiesced  in  the  future  stations  of  the  preachers. 
My  boily  and  mind  have  been  much  fatigued  during  the 
time  of  this  Conference.  And  if  I  were  not  deeply  con- 
scious of  the  truth  and  goodness  of  the  cause  in  which  I 
am  engaged  I  should  by  no  means  stay  here.  Lord, 
what  a  world  is  this  !  yea,  what  a  religious  world !  O 
keep  my  heart  pure,  and  my  garments  unspotted  from 
the  world !  Our  Conference  ended  on  Friday  with  a 
comfortable  intercession."  Rankin  says  of  the  session, 
"  Everything  considered,  we  had  reason  to  bless  God  for 
what  he  had  done  in  about  ten  months.  Above  a  thou- 
sand members  are  added  to  the  Societies,  and  most  of 
these  have  found  peace  with  God.  We  now  labor  in  the 
provinces  of  New  York,  the  Jerseys,  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia.  We  spoke  our  minds  freely, 
one  to  another  in  love  ;  an<l  whatever  we  thought  would 
further  the  work  we  most  cheerfully  embraced.  We 
had  now  more  than  seventeen  preachers  to  be  employed 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        229 

the  ensuing  year,  and  upward  of  tAvo  thousand  members, 
with  calls  and  openings  into  many  fresh  places.  "VVe  sta- 
tioned the  preachers  as  well  as  we  could,  and  all  seemed 
to  be  satisfied." 

Young  Watters  attended  this  Conference,  the  first  that 
he  witnessed ;  and  small  as  it  was,  it  was  an  imi^osing  spec- 
tacle to  him.  He  was  "  much  edified  by  the  conversation 
of  his  elder  brethren,"  and  preached  before  them,  and  a 
large  congregation,  in  St.  George's,  with  an  awe  which 
amounted  to  embarrassment.  Gatch  was  also  present, 
and  though  his  name  appeared  not  in  the  Minutes  of  the 
former  session,  he  was  now  received  into  full  member- 
ship, in  consideration  of  his  having  regularly  traveled 
during  the  preceding  year.*  A  reinforcement  of  seven 
preachers  was  received  on  trial.  Five  candidates  were 
admitted  to  membership.  The  statistical  returns  showed 
10  circuits,  17  preachers,  and  2,073  members.  There  had 
been  an  increase  since  the  last  Conference  of  4  circuits,* 
7  preachers,  and  913  members.  The  members  reported 
at  the  previous  session  had  been  nearly  doubled.  New 
York  reported  222;  Philadelphia,  204;  New  Jersey, 
257;  Maryland,  1,063;  Virginia,  291.  Maryland  had 
gained  563  ;  she  had  more  than  doubled  her  number  of 
the  preceding  year;  Virginia  had  gained  191,  and  had 
nearly  trebled  her  previous  returns.  Maryland  now  in- 
cluded more  than  half  the  members  of  the  entire  denom- 
ination ;  Maryland  and  Virginia  together  included  more 
than  two  thirds  of  them.  Methodism  was  centralizing 
about  the  center  of  the  colonies.  New  Jersey  was  di- 
vided into  two  circuits,  Trenton  and  Greenwich ;  the 

1  Minutes,  1774.    There  is  an  apparent  contradiction  in  Gatch's  own 
statement.    Life,  p.  30. 

2  Of  course  new  circuits  were  formed  usually  by  the  extension  and 
division  of  old  ones. 


230  HISTORY    OF    IHE 

latter,   and  Brunswick,  Va.,  and   Frederick  and   Kent, 
Md.,  were  the  new  ones  recorded  in  the  Minutes. 

Of  the  particular  proceeduigs  of  the  Conference  there 
remains  scarcely  any  record  whatever ;  nothing  more 
than  a  few  references  to  economical  arrangements,  such 
as  that  every  itinerant  in  full  membership  in  the  Confer- 
ence should  own  the  horse  provided  for  him  by  his  cir- 
cuit;  that  each  preacher  should  be  allowed  six  pounds, 
Pennsylvania  currency,  a  (juarter,  (abi>ut  sixty-four  dol- 
lars a  year,)  besides  traveling  expenses;  that  Rankin,  as 
"General  Assistant,"  should  be  supported  by  the  circuits 
where  he  might  "  spend  his  time  ;"  that  a  collection 
should  be  made  at  Easter  on  each  circuit  to  relieve  the 
chapel  debts  and  itinerants  in  want ;  and  that  "  all 
preachers  should  change  at  the  end  of  six  months,"  that 
is  to  say,  should  labor  but  half  the  year  on  the  same  cir- 
cuit. The  itinerancy  was  under  a  stern  regimen  at  that 
day.  Hitherto,  as  we  have  seen,  it  transferred  the 
preachers  from  Xew  York  to  Philadelphia  every  four 
months ;  now  it  was  more  rigorous  toward  the  laborers 
of  the  cities  than  before,  for  while  the  preachers  on  the 
country  circuits  exchanged  semi-annually,  those  of  Phil- 
adelphia and  New  York  exchanged  (juarterly.  The  itin- 
erancy was  prized  not  only  as  affording  variety  of  minis- 
terial gifts  to  the  Societies,  but  as  a  sort  of  military  drill 
to  the  preachers.  It  kept  them  energetic  by  keeping 
them  in  motion.  No  great  captain  has  approved  of 
long  encampments.  The  early  Methodist  itinerants 
were  an  evangelical  cavalry ;  they  were  always  in  the 
saddle ;  if  not  in  line  of  battle,  yet  skirmishing  and  pio- 
neering ;  a  mode  of  life  which  conduced  not  a  little  to 
that  chivalric  spirit  and  heroic  character  which  distin- 
guished them  as  a  class.  The  system  speedily  killed  oft 
such  as  were  weak  in  body,  and  drove  off  such  as  were 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         231 

feeble  in  character ;  the  remuaut  were  the  "  giants  of 
those  days  "  morally,  very  often  intellectually,  and,  to  a 
notable  extent,  physically.  Young  men,  j^rudently  initiat- 
ed into  its  hardships,  acquired  robust  health,  stentorian 
lungs,  and  buoyant  spirits,  "  a  good-humor,"  a  bon- 
hommie  which  facilitated  not  a  little  their  access  to 
the  common  people ;  but  many  whose  souls  were  equal 
to  their  work  sunk  under.it  physically.  Its  early  records 
are  full,  as  we  shall  hereafter  see,  of  examples  of  martyr- 
dom. 

On  Friday,  the  27th  of  May,  the  little  band  dispersed 
again  to  their  circuits. 

Asbury  hastened  to  New  York.  He  was  bowed  with 
disease,  and  though  fervent  in  spirit,  the  record  of  his  la 
bors  for  the  year  is  but  meager.  It  is,  however,  pervaded 
with  devout  aspirations,  and  with  an  energy  impatient 
of  rest.  We  can  trace  him  somewhat  beyond  the  city, 
especially  to  New  Rochelle,  now  one  of  his  most  favorite 
resorts;  but  he  returns  quickly,  to  throw  himself  ujjon 
his  restless  bed  and  to  receive  medical  relief.  "  Christ  is 
precious  to  my  believing  heart !"  he  exclaims  ;  "  blessed 
be  God  for  this !  It  is  infinitely  more  to  me  than  the 
favor  of  all  mankind  and  the  possession  of  all  the  earth  !" 
"  Blessed  be  God  !  my  soul  is  kept  in  peace  and  power 
and  love ;"  yet  he  soon  after  adds,  "  Both  my  mind  and 
body  are  weak,"  for  his  malady  is  grievously  depress- 
ing. At  every  intermission  of  its  attacks,  however,  he 
hastens  to  the  pulpit,  sometimes  dragging  his  debilita- 
ted frame  into  it  in  such  prostration  that  he  can  hardly 
stand  while  preaching.  "  Many  of  my  good  friends,"  he 
remarks  on  one  of  these  occasions,  "  kindly  visited  me 
to-day,  and  in  the  afternoon  I  took  another  emetic.  My 
heart  is  fixed  on  God  as  the  best  of  objects,  but  pants 
for  more  vigor,  and  a  permanent,  solemn  sense  of  God. 


232  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Rose  the  next  morning  at  five,  though  very  weak.  Many 
jicople  attended  the  public  wor^^hip  in  the  evening, 
though  I  was  but  just  able  to  give  them  a  few  words  of 
exhortation.  Seeing  the  peo[»le  so  desirous  to  hear,  now 
I  am  unable  to  say  much  to  tliem,  Satan  tempts  me  to 
murmuring  and  discontent.  May  the  Lord  fill  me  with 
jterfect  resignation  !"  Again,  later,  ''  My  body  was  very 
weak  and  sweated  exceedingly.  If  I  am  the  Lord's  why 
am  I  thus  ?  But  in  his  word  he  hath  told  me,  '  If  I  be 
■without  chastisement  then  am  I  a  bastard  and  not  a 
son.'  O  that  this  affliction  may  work  in  me  the  peace- 
able fruits  of  internal  and  universal  righteousness  !  An 
attempt  to  speak  a  little  in  exhortation  this  evening 
greatly  augmented  my  disorder." 

To  these  trials  were  added  the  sadder  affliction  of  difi- 
cords  in  the  New  York  Society,  and  of  severe  prejudice 
against  him  for  his  enforcement  of  discipline.  Though 
habitually  nerved  with  an  energy  of  will  which  nothing 
could  relax,  he  nevertheless  sometimes  turned  aside  to 
mourn  in  secret,  with  longings  for  the  fin.al  rest.  "  Weak 
in  both  body  and  mind,"  he  writes,  "in  this  tabernacle 
I  groan,  earnestly  desiring  to  be  clothed  upon  with  the 
house  which  is  from  heaven.  My  soul  longs  to  fly  to 
God,  that  it  may  be  ever  with  him.  O  happy  day  that 
shall  call  a  poor  exile  home  to  his  Father's  house  I  But 
I  must  check  the  impetuous  current  of  desire,  for  it  is 
written,  '  He  that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste.'  "  His 
disease  advanced,  till  at  last  his  "  legs,  hands,  and  feet 
were  swollen ;"  but  he  meanwhile  preached  and  met 
classes  almost  continually,  in  the  adjacent  country  afi  well 
as  in  the  city.  Concord  was  restored  in  the  John-street 
Society,  and  his  own  soul  "strengthened  with  might 
and  filled  with  peace." 

Additional  missionaries  arrived  from  England  about 


METHODIST    EriSCOPAL    CHURCH.        233 

the  micldle  of  November;  they  relieved  Asbury,  who 
had  now  remained  at  New  York  longer  than  his  assigned 
time;  and  he  hastened  southward,  still  feeble  in  body, 
but  ardent  in  soul.  lie  spent  three  months  in  Phila- 
delphia,  but  was  disabled  much  of  the  time  by  his 
malady.  In  one  of  his  attacks  he  says,  "  My  friends, 
expecting  my  death,  affectionately  lamented  over  rae." 
In  the  beginning  of  17V5  he  writes,  "I  am  once  more 
able  to  write,  and  feel  a  solemn,  grateful  sense  of  God's 
goodness.  My  all  of  body,  soul,  and  time,  are  his  due ; 
and  should  be  devoted,  without  the  least  reserve,  to 
his  service  and  glory.  O  that  he  may  give  me  grace 
sufficient !  I  am  still  getting  better,  but  am  not  able  to 
speak  in  public ;  though  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  like  fire 
within  me,  and  I  am  almost  weary  of  forbearing.  My 
mind  is  filled  with  pure,  evangelical  peace.  I  had  some 
conversation  with  Captain  Webb,  an  Israelite  indeed, 
and  we  both  concluded  that  it  was  my  duty  to  go  to 
Baltimore.     I  feel  willing  to  go,  if  it  is  even  to  die  there." 

In  the  latter  part  of  February  he  was  on  his  way  to 
Baltimore,  preaching  as  he  went.  Arriving  there  he 
wrote,  "  My  heart  was  greatly  refreshed  at  the  sight  of 
my  spiritual  children  and  kind  friends,  for  whose  welfare 
my  soul  had  travailed  both  present  and  absent.  The 
next  day  I  had  the  j^leasure  of  seeing  our  new  house, 
and  my  old  friends,  with  some  new  ones  added  to  their 
number.  Here  are  all  my  own  with  increase."  On  his 
first  Sabbath  in  the  city,  "  both  in  town  and  at  the  Point, 
large  numbers,"  he  says,  "attended  to  hear  the  word. 
The  power  of  God  was  present;  and  I  had  an  inward 
witness  that  it  was  the  will  of  God  I  should,  at  this  time, 
be  among  these  people." 

And  now,  Avith  gradually  returning  health,  he  becomes 
himself  again  ;  he  preaches,  almost  daily,  at  the  Point  or 


234  HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  tlie  town,  and  incessantly  hastens  to  more  or  less  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  circuit,  proclaiming  his  message  along 
his  route,  and  again  we  read  of  "  the  divine  energy  going 
forth  among  the  people;"  of  "much  of  the  power  of 
God"  in  the  assemblies;  of  their  bowing  "under  the 
weight  of  the  word  ;"  of"  rich  and  poor"  thronging  them 
and  "  melting  under  the  truth."  Otterbein  accompanies 
him,  and  they  have  "  a  blessed  and  refreshing  season." 
Williams  arrives  from  Virginia  and  cheers  him  with  in- 
creasingly good  news  from  that  province,  still,  as  in  the 
previous  year,  the  scene  of  the  greatest  religious  interest 
in  America.  He  reports  "  five  or  six  hundred  souls  just- 
ified by  faith,  and  five  or  six  circuits  formed  ;  so  that  we 
have  now  fourteen  circuits  in  America,  and  about  twen- 
ty-two Preachers  are  required  to  supply  them.  Thus  we 
see  how  Divine  Providence  makes  way  for  the  word  of 
truth,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  attends  it.  May  it  spread  in 
power,  and  cover  these  lands!  I  dined  with  Mr.  Otter- 
bein, and  spent  the  afternoon  with  him  and  Mr.  Swoop, 
another  minister  of  the  same  profession.  They  both  ap- 
pear to  be  sincerely  religious,  and  intend  to  make  jiropo- 
sals  to  the  German  synod  this  year  to  lay  a  plan  for  the 
reformation  of  the  Dutch  congregations." 

Gennan  MetlnKlism — the  Church  of  the  "United  Breth- 
ren in  Christ" — was  thus  germinating  under  the  watch- 
ful eye  of  Asbury.  He  takes  increasing  delight  in  his 
labors,  for  their  impression  has  become  so  visible  tliat  he 
can  prophetically  see  the  future  Methudistic  strength  of 
lialtiraore.  "  God,"  he  writes,  "  is  my  portion,  and  my 
all-sufficient  good.  He  fills  me  with  pure  spiritual  life. 
]VIy  heart  is  melte«l  into  holy  love,  and  altogether  devoted 
to  my  Lord.  Many  came  to  hear  the  word  of  life  in 
the  evening,  and  my  soul  was  supjilied  with  strength. 
The  Spirit  of  God  attended  our  endeavors  both  in  town 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       235 

and  at  the  Point.  My  heart  was  greatly  enlarged,  in 
town  especially.  There  is  a  very  apparent  alteration  in 
this  place.  There  is  not  so  much  drunkenness  and  neglect 
of  the  ordinances  as  in  former  times,  and  the  people  are 
much  more  inclined  to  attend  the  places  of  public  wor- 
ship ;  so  that,  on  the  whole,  I  entertain  a  lively  hope 
that  the  Lord  will  yet  raise  up  for  himself  a  large  Soci- 
ety in  Baltimore."     The  prediction  has  become  fact. 

The  Revolutionary  storm  was  lowering,  but  his  faith 
fails  not ;  he  still  prophesies  good.  On  Monday,  April 
30th,  he  writes,  "I  preached  three  times,  and  the  cup  of 
my  blessing  was  full.  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord 
for  all  his  benefits?  But  we  have  alarming  military  ac- 
counts from  Boston,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia.  Surely 
the  Lord  will  overrule,  and  make  all  these  things  sub- 
servient to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  Church."  Ptankin 
indulged  in  denunciatory  premonitions  of  coming  woes 
to  the  colonies.  Asbury,  bound  as  an  Englishman  to  be 
respectful  to  his  government,  evidently  saw,  with  the 
American  statesmen,  the  great  probable  issues  of  the  con- 
test, both  to  the  Church  and  the  State.  His  sagacious 
mind  anticipated  the  triumphs  which  awaited  Methodism 
in  the  regenerated  country.  Though  he  apprehended  im- 
mediate evil  effects  from  the  Revolution,  he  was  reticent, 
yet  obviously  hopeful,  and,  as  he  subsequently  proved, 
loyal  at  heart  to  the  colonial  cause. 

Asbury's  usefulness  in  the  Baltimore  Circuit  at  this 
time  had  permanently  important  results.  He  gathered 
into  the  young  Societies  not  a  few  of  those  influential 
families  whose  opulence  and  social  position  gave  material 
strength  to  Methodism  through  much  of  its  early  history 
in  that  city,  while  their  exemplary  devotion  helped  to 
maintain  its  primitive  purity  and  power.  Henry  Dorsey 
Gough   and    his   family   were    distinguished    examples. 


236  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Gough  possessed  a  fortune  in  lands  and  money  amount- 
ing to  more  than  three  hundred  tliousand  dollars.  He 
had  married  a  daughter  of  Governor  Kidgcley.  Hi? 
country  residence — Perry  Hall,  about  twelve  miles  from 
the  city — was  "one  of  the  most  spacious  and  elegant  in 
America  at  that  time.'"  But  he  was  an  Jinhappy  man  in 
the  midst  of  his  luxury.  His  wife  had  been  deeply  im- 
pressed by  the  Methodist  preaching,  biit  he  forbade  her 
to  hear  them  again.  While  reveling  with  wine  and  gay 
companions,  one  evening,  it  was  proposed  that  they 
should  divert  themselves  by  going  together  to  a  Meth- 
odist assembly.  Asbury  was  the  preacher,  and  no  godless 
diversion  could  be  found  in  his  presence.  "  What  non- 
sense," exclaimed  one  of  the  convivi.alists,  as  they  return- 
ed, "what  nonsense  have  we  heard  to-night!"  "No;" 
replied  Gough,  startling  them  Avith  sudden  surprise, 
"  No ;  what  we  have  heard  is  the  truth,  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus."  "  I  will  never  hinder  you  again  from  hearing 
the  Methodists,"  he  said,  as  he  entered  his  house  and  met 
his  wife.  The  impression  of  the  sermon  was  so  profound 
that  he  could  no  longer  enjoy  his  accustomed  pleasures. 
He  became  deejily  serious  and,  at  last,  melancholy,  "and 
was  near  destroying  himself"  under  the  awakened  sense 
of  his  misspent  life ;  but  God  mercifully  preserved  him. 
Riding  to  one  of  his  plantations,  he  heard  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  in  a  cabin,  and,  listening,  discovered 
that  a  negro  from  a  neighboring  estate  was  leading  the 
devotions  of  his  own  slaves,  and  offering  fervent  th.anks- 
givings  for  the  blessings  of  their  depressed  lot.  His 
heart  was  touched,  and  with  emotion  he  exclaimed, 
"  Alas,  O  Lord  !  I  have  my  thousan<ls  an<l  tens  of  thou- 
sands, and  yet,  ungrateful  wretch  that  I  am,  I  never 
thanked  thee,  as  this  poor  slave  does,  who  has  scarcely 
*  Lednnm,  p.  153. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        237 

clothes  to  put  on  or  food  to  satisfy  his  hunger."  The 
luxurious  master  was  taught  a  lesson,  on  the  nature  of 
true  contentment  and  happiness,  which  he  could  never 
forget.  His  work-worn  servants  in  their  lowly  cabins 
knew  a  blessedness  which  he  had  never  found  in  his 
sumptuous  mansion.  He  returned  home,  pondering  the 
mystery,  with  a  distressed  and  contrite  heart.  He  re- 
tired from  his  table,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  large 
company  of  his  friends,  and  threw  himself  upon  his  knees 
in  a  chamber.  While  there,  imploring  the  mercy  of 
God,  he  received  conscious  pardon  and  peace.  In  a 
transport  of  joy  he  went  to  his  company,  exclaiming,  "  T 
have  found  the  Methodists'  blessing,  I  have  found  the 
Methodists'  God!"  Both  he  and  his  wife  now  became 
members  of  the  Methodist  Society,  and  Perry  Hall  was 
henceforth  an  asylum  for  the  itinerants  and  a  "  preach- 
ing place."  Rankin  visited  it  the  next  year,  and  says, 
"I  spent  a  most  agreeable  evening  with  them.  A  nu- 
merous family  of  servants  were  called  in  for  exhortation 
and  prayer,  so  that,  with  them  and  the  rest  of  the  house, 
we  had  a  little  congregation." 

The  wealthy  convert  erected  a  chapel  contiguous  to 
Perry  Hall ;  the  first  American  Methodist  church  that 
had  a  bell,  and  it  rang  every  morning  and  evening,  sum- 
moning his  numerous  household  and  slaves  to  family 
worship.  They  made  a  congregation  ;  for  the  establish- 
ment comprised  a  hundred  persons.  The  Circuit  Preach- 
ers supplied  it  twice  a  month,  and  Local  Preachers  every 
Sunday.  After  some  years  of  steadfast  piety,  this  liberal 
man  yielded  to  the  strong  temptations  of  his  social  posi- 
tion, and  fell  away  from  his  humbler  brethren.  But  his 
excellent  wife  maintained  her  integrity,  and  her  fidelity 
was  rewarded  by  his  restoration.  Under  the  labors  of 
Asbury,  his  "  spiritual  father,"  he  was  reclaimed  in  1800, 


238  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  applied  for  readmission  to  the  Church  in  the  Light- 
street  Cliapel,  Baltimore.  "When  the  pastor  put  the 
qtiestion  of  his  reception  to  vote  the  whole  assembly  rose, 
and  with  tears  and  prayers  welcomed  him  again.  His 
zeal  was  renewed,  his  devotion  steadfast,  and  he  built  an- 
other chapel  for  the  Methodists  in  a  poor  neighborhood. 
His  charities  were  large ;  and  he  was  ever  ready  to  min- 
ister, with  both  his  means  and  his  Christian  sympathies, 
to  the  atllicted  within  or  without  the  pale  of  his  Church. 
After  his  reclamation  he  exclaimed,  "  O  if  my  wife  had 
ever  given  way  to  the  world  I  should  have  been  lost ; 
but  her  uniformly  good  life  inspired  me  with  the  hope 
that  I  should  one  day  be  restored  to  the  favor  of  God." 
He  ]»reached  at  times,  and,  during  the  agitations  of  the 
llev<^>lution,  was  brought  before  the  magistrates  for  his 
public  labors.  He  died  in  1808,  while  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  his  Church  was  in  session  in  Baltimore.  Asbury, 
who  had  twice  led  him  to  the  cross,  was  j)resent  to  comfort 
him  in  his  fin.al  trial,  and  says,  "  In  his  last  hours,  which 
were  painfully  afflictive,  he  was  much  given  up  to  God. 
When  the  corjtse  was  removed,  to  be  taken  into  the  coun- 
try for  interment,  many  of  the  members  of  the  General 
Conference  w.alked  in  procession  after  it  to  the  end  of 
the  town."  The  Bishop  describes  him  an  "  a  man  much 
respected  and  beloved  ;  as  a  husband,  a  father,  and  a 
master,  well  worthy  of  imitation ;  his  charities  were  as 
numerous  as  proper  objects  to  a  Christian  were  likely  to 
make  them;  and  the  souls  and  bodies  of  the  poor  were 
administered  to  in  the  manner  of  a  Christian  who  re- 
membered the  precepts  and  followed  the  example  of  his 
Divine  Master." 

"Perry  Hall,"  says  the  Methodist  chronicler,  "was 
the  resort  of  much  company,  among  whom  the  skeptic 
and  the  Romanist  were  sometimes  found.     Members  of 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         239 

the  Baltimore  bar,  the  elite  of  Maryland,  were  there. 
But  it  mattered  not  who  were  there  ;  when  the  bell  rang 
for  family  devotion  they  were  seen  in  the  chapel,  and  if 
there  was  no  male  person  present,  who  could  lead  the  de- 
votions, Mrs.  Gough  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  gave  out 
a  hymn,  which  was  often  raised,  and  sung  by  the  colored 
servants,  after  which  she  would  engage  in  prayer.  Take 
her  altogether,  few  such  have  been  found  on  earth,"''  As- 
bury  called  her  a  "  true  daughter  "  to  himself,  and  Coke, 
"  a  precious  woman,  of  fine  sense."  "  Her  only  sister  be- 
came a  Methodist  about  the  same  time  that  she  did  ;  tliey 
continued  faithful  to  a  good  old  age,  when  they  were 
called  to  take  a  higher  seat.  Most  of  her  relations  fol- 
lowed her  example  of  piety.  Many  of  them  were  Method- 
ists cast  in  the  old  die.  Methodism  still  continues  in  this 
distinguished  family."  Its  only  daughter  became,  under 
her  parental  training,  a  devoted  Methodist.  Her  marriage 
into  the  Carroll  family,  memorable  in  our  revolutionary  his- 
tory, did  not  impair,  but  extended  her  religious  influence. 
This  devout  and  liberal  family  has  long  been  historical 
in  our  Church  annals.  The  early  books  of  Methodism 
make  frequent  reference  to  it,  and  its  services  to  the 
denomination.  Asbury's  Journals  have  rendered  its 
name  familiar.  A  veteran  itinerant,  who  lingered  till  he 
became  the  oldest  living  Methodist  preacher,  has  drawn 
the  picture  of  the  Christian  hospitalities  of  Perry  Hall, 
remarking,  "  We  were  received  in  their  usual  warm  and 
affectionate  way,  and  I  was  for  the  first  time  introduced 
to  that  dear  household.  I  soon  found  that  religion  in 
its  native  simplicity  dwelt  in  some  great  houses,  and  that 
some  of  the  rich  had  been  cast  in  the  Gospel  mould,  and 
came  out  in  the  image  and  likeness  of  their  Lord.  Perry 
Hall  was  the  largest  dwelling-house  I  had  ever  seen,  and 
*  Lednum,  chap.  23. 


240  HISTORY    OF    THE 

all  its  arrangements,  witliin  and  without,  were  tasteful  and 
elegant,  yet  simplicity  and  utility  seemed  to  be  stamped 
upon  the  whole.  The  garden,  orchards,  and  everything 
else,  were  delightful  indeed,  and  looked  to  me  like  an 
earthly  paradise.  But,  what  pleased  me  better  than  any- 
thing else,  I  found  a  neat  chapel  attached  to  the  house, 
with  a  small  cupola  and  l)ell,  that  could  be  heard  all  over 
the  farm.  In  this  chapel  morning  and  evening  prayers 
were  offered  to  God.  The  bell  rang  about  half  an  hour 
before  ]>rayer,  when  the  manager  and  servants  from  the 
farm-house,  and  servants'  quarters,  and  garden,  together 
with  the  inhabitants  of  the  great  mansion,  repaired  to  the 
chapel.  So  large  and  well-regulated  a  family  I  never 
saw  before.  All  seemed  to  know  their  place,  and  duty, 
and  did  it.  For  some  reasons  we  had  prayers  in  the  par- 
lor that  night,  and  it  was  a  solemn  time.  When  we  rose 
from  our  knees  all  took  their  seats  and  were  silent.  I  was 
leil  to  talk  a  little  of  the  excellence  of  religion,  and  the 
beauty  of  holiness.  All  were  attentive,  and  some  wept ;  I 
believe  Mr.  Gough  was  in  tears.  After  I  was  done  he  camo 
to  me,  and  took  my  hand  in  both  his,  and  expressed  him- 
self i>leased  ;  and  from  that  hour  I  felt  myself  at  home  at 
Perry  Hall."*  We  shall  have  occasion  often  to  return  to 
Perry  Hall,  and  shall  at  last  meet  there  Asbury  and 
Coke,  Whatcoat  and  Vesey,  from  England,  and  Black 
from  Xova  Scotia,  constructing  under  its  hospitable  roof 
the  organization  of  the  M.  E.  Church  prior  to  the  "  Christ- 
mas Conference."  Asbury  continued  his  successful  labors 
on  the  Baltimore  Circuit  till  ^lay,  1775,  when  he  departed 
for  the  Conference  at  Philadelphia. 

Rankin  has  left  but  brief  notices  of  his  labors  during 
this  ecclesiastical  year.  He  remained  apparently  about 
pi.\  months  in  Philadelphia,  making  expeditions  to  New 
»  Recollections  of  an  Old  Itinerant.    Bj  Rev.  ITonry  Smith.  Letter  22. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         241 

Jersey  and  other  adjacent  regions.  In  the  autumn  ol 
1774,  he  went  into  Maryland  to  hold  a  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence. Shadford,  and  several  of  his  fellow-laborers  in  the 
state,  were  present,  and  Williams  had  come  two  hundred 
miles  from  Virginia  to  encourage  them  with  the  good 
news  with  which  he  had  refreshed  Asbury.  On  the  first 
of  November  they  held  their  first  Quarterly  Meeting  for 
the  season.  "We  had  our  general  love-feast,"  says 
Rankin,  "  in  the  forenoon,  and  finished  the  business  of 
the  Circuit  after  dinner.  In  the  evening  we  had  our 
watch-night.  This  was  a  day  to  be  remembered,  and 
I  hope  it  will  be  by  some  to  all  eternity.  The  heav- 
ens were  opened,  and  the  skies  j^oured  down  right- 
eousness. The  Lord  spoke  to  many  hearts  with  a  mighty 
voice,  and  the  shout  of  the  King  of  Glory  was  heard  in 
our  camp.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  our  God  forever  and 
for  evermore !" 

A  week  later  he  writes,  "  We  rode  to  Henry  Watters's, 
near  Deer  Creek,  where  we  intended  holding  our  Quar- 
terly Meeting  for  Baltimore  and  Kent  circuit,  on  the 
Eastern  Shore.  After  an  early  breakfast  we  spent  about 
two  hours  in  the  affairs  of  the  circuits.  At  ten  our  general 
love-feast  began.  There  was  such  a  number  of  whites 
and  blacks  as  never  had  attended  on  such  an  occasion 
before.  After  we  had  sung  and  prayed  the  cloud  burst 
from  my  mind,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  descended  in 
such  an  extraordinary  manner  as  I  had  never  seen  since 
ray  landing  at  Philadelphia.  All  the  preachers  were  so 
overcome  with  the  Divine  presence  that  they  could  scarce 
address  the  people,  but  only  in  broken  accents  say, 
'  This  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God,  and  the  gate 
of  heaven  !'  When  any  of  the  people  stood  up  to  declare 
the  loving-kindness  of  God,  they  were  so  overwhelmed 
with  the  Divine  presence  that  they  were  obliged  to  sit 
A— 16 


242  UISTORY     OF     THE 

down  and  let  silence  speak  his  praise.  Near  the  close  of 
our  meeting  I  stood  up  and  called  upon  the  people  to 
look  toward  that  part  of  the  chapel  where  all  the  blacks 
were.  I  then  said  'See  the  number  ol"  the  Africans  who 
have  stretched  out  their  hands  unto  God !'  "While  I  was 
addressing  the  people  thus,  it  seemed  as  if  the  very  house 
shook  with  the  mighty  power  and  glory  of  Sinai's  God. 
Many  of  the  people  were  so  overcome  that  they  were 
ready  to  faint  and  die  under  his  Almighty  hand.  For 
about  three  hours  the  gale  of  the  Sj»irit  thus  continued  to 
breathe  upon  the  dry  bones ;  and  they  did  live  the  life  of 
glorious  love  !  As  for  myself,  I  scarce  knew  whether  I 
w.as  in  the  body  or  not;  and  so  it  was  with  all  my  breth- 
ren. Wc  did  not  know  how  to  break  up  the  meeting  or 
part  asunder.  Surely  the  fruits  of  this  season  will  remain 
to  all  eternity." 

Sha<lfi>rd  was  appointed  by  the  Conference  of  1774  to 
Baltimore  Circuit,  with  three  other  preachers.  He  was 
a  man  of  fervid  eloquence,  of  great  tenderness  of  feeling, 
and  readiness  for  any  opportunity  of  usefulness.  The 
people  sought,  especially  in  affliction,  his  sympathetic 
counsels.  A  few  weeks  after  his  arrival  in  I>altimore"a 
young  man,"  he  says,  "came  to  me  with  two  horses,  and 
entreated  me  to  go  to  his  father's  house,  about  four  miles 
from  the  city,  to  visit  his  poor  distressed  brother,  who 
was  chained  in  bed,  and  whose  case  they  did  not  under- 
stand, supposing  him  to  be  mad,  or  possessed  with  a 
devil.  When  I  entered  the  room  I  found  the  young  man 
in  the  depth  of  despair.  I  told  him  Christ  died  for  sin- 
ners ;  that  he  came  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost ;  yea, 
that  he  received  the  chief  of  sinners,  and  abided,  'There 
is  no  other  name  given  under  heaven  whereby  men  can 
be  saved,  but  that  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  The 
young  man   laid   hold  of  those   words,  '  The   name  of 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH.        243 

Jesus  Christ ;'  and  said  he  would  call  upon  Jesus  Christ 
as  long  as  he  lived,  and  found  some  little  hope  within 
him,  but  knew  no  more  how  he  must  be  saved  than  an 
Indian.  I  sung  a  verse  or  two  of  a  hymn,  and  then 
his  father,  mother,  and  brethren  joined  me  in  prayer. 
The  power  of  God  was  among  us  of  a  tinith  ;  we  had 
melted  hearts  and  weeping  eyes,  and  indeed  there  was  a 
shower  of  tears  among  us.  I  know  not  when  I  have  felt 
more  of  the  Divine  presence,  or  power  to  wrestle  with 
God  in  prayer,  than  at  this  time.  After  we  rose  from  our 
knees,  I  gave  an  exhortation,  and  continued  to  go  to 
preach  in  their  house  every  week  or  fortnight  for  some 
time.  They  loosed  the  young  man  that  was  bound  ;  and 
the  Lord  shortly  after  loosed  him  from  the  chain  of  his 
sins,  and  set  him  at  j)erfect  liberty.  He  soon  began  to 
warn  his  neighbors,  and  to  exhort  sinners  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  which  is  to  come  ;  and  before  I  left  the  country, 
he  began  to  travel  a  circuit,  and  was  remarkably  suc- 
cessful. I  followed  him  in  Kent,  Delaware ;  and  verily 
believe  he  was  instrumental  in  awakening  a  hundred 
sinners  that  year." 

The  faithful  itinerant  thus  provided  a  new  preaching 
place  and  a  preacher.  This  young  man  was  Joseph 
Cromwell,  whose  name  was  em'olled,  on  the  Conference 
list  of  itinerants,  in  1777. 

Shadford's  colleagues,  on  the  Baltimore  Circuit,  were 
Robert  Lindsey,  Edward  Dromgoole,  and  Richard  Web- 
ster. Lindsey,  an  Irishman,  was  admitted  on  trial  at  the 
Conference  of  1774.  He  continued  to  itinerate  in  this 
country  about  three  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
Europe,  and  labored  in  the  Wesleyan  ministry  till  1788. 
Dromgoole  was  also  an  Irishman.  He  had  been  a  Papist, 
but  was  led,  in  1770,  by  Methodist  influence  in  his  native 
country,  to  renounce  Popery,  by  reading,  publicly  in  a 


24-i  HISTORY    OF    THE 

church,  his  recantation.  In  tlie  same  year  he  arrived  in 
Baltimore  with  a  letter  of  introilnction  to  his  countryman, 
Robert  Strawbridge.  lie  heard  Strawbridge  preach,  and 
induced  him  to  visit  Fredericktown.  Methodism  was  thus 
introduced  into  that  community.  Dromgoole  still  deemed 
himself  an  unregenerate  man  ;  but  after  a  period  of  tleep 
mental  distress,  he  received  the  peace  of  God  while  upon 
his  knees  on  a  Sunday  evening.  He  began  to  prt-ach  in 
1773;  the  ne.xt  year  he  was  employed,  till  the  Conference, 
on  the  Frederick  Circuit.  The  Conference  sent  him,  a.s  a  co- 
laborer  with  Shadford,  to  Baltimore  Circuit.  lie  labored 
in  various  places,  but  chietly  in  Virginia  and  North  Caro 
lina,  till  1786,'  when  he  located  on  the  Brunswick  Circuit, 
where  he  continueil  to  be  useful.  Richard  "Webster, 
Shadford's  other  ccilleague,  was  one  of  the  earliest  Meth- 
odist converts  of  Harford  County,  Mmylaiid,  where  he 
joined  the  Church  under  Strawbridge,  in  17t>>^;  in  1770 
his  house  was  a  "  preaching  place"  of  the  denomination  ; 
about  the  same  time  he  became  a  public  laborer  in  the 
cause  ;  in  1772  Asbury  sent  him  out  to  travel  with  John 
King,  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  the  state.  He  seems  to 
have  been  an  unpretentious  "  Helper ;"  for  though  his 
name  appears  in  the  appointments  for  1774  and  1775, 
he  was  never  received  on  trial,  but  traveled  under  direc- 
tion of  the  "preacher  in  charge."  He  is  not  recorded  in 
the  classified  catalogue  of  regular  itinerants,  given  by  the 
earliest  historian  of  Methodism." 

Led  on  by  the  ardent  Shadford,  these  new  laborers 
(all  of  them  for  the  first  time  on  the  list  of  appointments) 
were,  with  their  coadjutors  on  the  two  other  Maryland 
Circuits,  greatly  successful.     The  number  of  Methodists 

•  Lednum,  p.  133.  Lee  locates  him  earlier,  p.  31 «.  A  large  m^ority 
of  the  itinerants  of  the  last  century  located  when  they  married.  The 
Church  was  yet  too  poor  to  support  ministerial  families. 

'  Lee's  Hiutory,  p.  817. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         245 

in  the  state  was  increased,  by  move  than  one  third,  before 
the  ensuing  session  of  the  Conference. 

Among  their  fellow-laborers  in  the  state  was  Philip 
Gatch,  who  traveled  the  Frederick  Circuit  some  months, 
and  Kent  Circuit  the  remainder   of  the   year.     Gatch 
writes  :  "  These  were  trying  times  to  Methodist  preach- 
ers.    Some  endured  as  seeing  Him   who   is    invisible; 
others  left  the  field  in  the  day  of  conflict.     My  appoint- 
ment by  the  Conference  was  for  six  months  to  Frederick 
Circuit  with  William  Duke,  who  was  quite  a  youth.     We 
found  the  circuit  to  be  very  laborious ;  some  of  the  rides 
were  quite  long ;  and  there  were  only  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five    members   in   the   Society.     Fredericktown 
and  Georgetown  were  both  in  the  circuit ;  but  there  were 
only  a  few  members  in  each.     Mr.  Strawbridge  and  Mr. 
Owen  lived  in  the  bounds  of  this  charge.     We  found 
among  the  few  in  Society  some  steady,  firm  members, 
and  in  some  places  the  prospect  was  encouraging.     I  had 
gone  but  a  few  rounds  when  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Shadford  directing  me  to  gather  up  my  clothes  and  books 
and  meet  him  at  the  quarterly  conference  to  be  held  in 
Baltimore.     It  was  a  time  of  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit ; 
my  own  soul  was  greatly  refreshed.     Mr.  Shadford  at 
the  interview  made  a  remark  which  was  afterward  of 
great  service  to  me.     Said  he,  'When  addressing  the 
people  always  treat  on  those  subjects  that  will  afifect  your 
own  heart,  and  the  feelings  of  the  hearers  will  be  sure  to 
be  affected.'     I  was  ordered  to  Kent  Circuit  to  take  the 
place  of  Whitworth."      Whitworth,  as  we  have  seen, 
had  apostatized  while  on  this  circuit,  and  it  had  been 
without  a  preacher  since  the  last  Conference.     "  This," 
adds  Gatch,  "  under  the  circumstances,  was  a  great  trial 
to  me,  for  he  had  given  the  enemies  of  Methodism  great 
ground  for  reproach.     But,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  I 


2-16  HISTORY    OF    THE 

proceeded.  My  first  Sabbath  appointment  was  at  tlie 
very  place  where  lie  had  wounded  the  cause  of  God.  I 
felt  both  weak  and  strong.  There  was  assembled  a  very 
large  congregation.  Many  behaved  quite  disorderly, 
evincing  an  intention  of  treating  the  service  with  con- 
tempt. I  had  not  the  fortitude  to  reprove  them,  knowing 
the  canse  of  their  conduct.  After  I  had  closed  my  ser- 
mon, I  made  an  appointment  to  j)reach  at  the  same  place 
in  two  weeks,  and  remarked  that  I  was  sorry  they  had 
been  so  long  without  preaching,  and  that  I  hoped  they 
would  not  censure  the  Conference,  for  they  had  been  im- 
posed upon  by  a  man  unworthy  as  he  had  j>roved  himself 
to  be  of  their  confidence ;  that  they  disapproved  of  the 
man,  and  of  all  the  conduct  of  which  he  had  been  guilty. 
But  the  Lord  reigneth,  and  he  often  saith,  '  Be  still  and 
know  that  I  am  God.'  In  this  instance  he  manifested 
his  power  in  an  extraordinary  manner  in  overruling  the 
evil  which  we  feared.  The  work  of  the  Lord  Avas  greatly 
revived  on  this  small  circuit.  Numbers  were  converted 
at  the  diflTerent  appointments ;  and  in  the  neighborhood 
where  the  wound  was  inflicted  the  work  of  God  was  the 
most  powert'ul.  The  Most  High  can  work  as  he  pleases. 
His  way  is  often  in  the  whirlwind."  lie  had  several 
severe  rencounters  with  persecutors  on  this  circuit.  At 
one  of  his  appointments  a  man  entered  the  door  while  he 
was  preaching,  whose  menacing  aspect  excited  his  suspi- 
cion. He  gradually  approached  the  preacher,  and  at  the 
last  prayer  seized  the  chair  at  which  the  latter  was  kneel- 
ing, evidently  intending  to  use  it  as  a  weapon  with  which  to 
attack  him ;  but  Gatch  took  hold  of  it  and  prevented  the 
blow.  The  contest  now  became  violent,  and  the  assail- 
ant "roared  like  a  lion,"  while  the  evangelist  "  was  upon 
his  knees  reproving  him  in  the  language  of  St.  Paul." 
Bnt  the  ruffian  was  soon  seized  by  persons  in  the  congre- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        247 

gation,  and  thrown  with  such  energy  out  of  the  house 
that  his  coat  was  torn  entirely  down  his  back.  While 
in  the  yard  he  "  roared  like  a  demon  ;"  but  Gatch  es- 
caped without' injury.  He  rejoiced  over  one  of  his  best 
trophies  won  in  this  contested  place :  Philip  Cox,  after- 
ward a  useful  traveling  preacher,  was  converted  there. 

A  noted  clerical  persecutor  by  the  name  of  Kain  re- 
sided in  a  neighborhood  of  this  circuit,  a  man  who  had 
repeatedly  opposed  the  itinerants  in  public,  endeavoring 
to  drive  them  from  the  field ;  and  many  are  the  traditions 
still  current  on  the  Eastern  Shore  about  his  boisterous 
hostility  to  Whitworth,  Watters,  and  others.  When 
Gatch  was  to  preach  within  his  parish,  he  circulated  his 
intention  to  meet  and  refute  the  itinerant.  "I  heard  of 
this,"  says  the  latter,  "  the  day  before  the  appointment 
was  to  take  place,  and  I  understood  that  he  was  a 
mighty  man  of  war.  I  knew  that  I  was  weak,  and  that 
unless  I  was  strengthened  from  on  high  I  should  fail.  I 
went  to  God  in  prayer,  and  he  brought  to  my  mind  the 
case  of  David  with  the  lion,  the  bear,  and  Goliath.  I  then 
gathered  strength,  and  now  no  longer  dreaded  the  en- 
counter. The  minister  met  me  in  the  yard  in  clerical 
costume,  and  asked  me  if  I  was  the  person  that  was  to 
preach  there  that  day.  I  replied,  '  I  expect  to  do  so.' 
He  then  asked  me  by  what  authority.  I  answered,  '  By 
the  authority  which  God  gave  me.'  After  a  few  words 
had  passed  between  us,  he  again  asked  by  what  author- 
ity I  had  come  to  preach  in  St.  Luke's  parish.  I  re- 
marked that  I  Avas  just  then  going  to  preach,  and  he 
might  judge  for  himself,  for  the  Scripture  saith,  '  He  that 
is  spiritual  judgeth  all  things.'  I  stood  upon  a  platform 
erected  for  the  occasion  in  an  orchard.  Parson  Kain 
took  his  station  on  ray  right.  I  took  for  my  text  Ezekiel 
xviii,  27:  'Again,  when  the  wicked  man  turneth  away 


248  HISTORY    OF    TUh 

from  his  wickedness  tlmt  lie  l)atli  committed,  and  doeth 
that  which  is  lawful  and  right,  he  shall  save  his  soul 
alive.'  T  concluded  that  this  sentence,  which  is  contained 
in  the  Church  prayer  book,  would  not  be  taking  hira 
from  home.  I  knew  a  great  deal  of  the  prayer  book  by 
heart,  and  took  it  with  me  through  my  sermon.  Mr. 
Kain's  countenance  evinced  an  excited  state  of  mind. 
When  I  had  closed  he  took  the  stand,  and  on  my  hand- 
ing him  nty  Bible,  he  attempted  to  read  the  interview 
with  Xicodemus,  but  he  was  so  confused  that  he  could 
not  distinctly  read  it.  From  that  passage  he  attempted 
to  disprove  the  new  birth,  substituting  in  its  stead  water 
baptism.  lie' exclaimed  against  extemporaneous  prayer, 
urging  the  necessity  of  a  written  form.  "When  he  had 
closed  I  again  took  the  stand,  read  the  same  passage,  and 
remarked  that  we  could  feel  the  effects  of  the  wind  upon 
our  bodies,  and  see  it  on  the  trees,  but  the  wind  we  could 
not  see;  and  I  referred  to  my  own  experience,  that  hav- 
ing been  l)aj)tized  in  infancy,  I  was  not  sensible  of  the 
regenerating  influence  of  the  Spirit  till  the  time  of  my 
conversion,  and  then  it  was  sensibly  felt.  I  met  his  ob- 
jection to  extemporary  prayer  by  a  few  Scripture  cases, 
such  a.s  when  Peter  was  sinking  he  did  not  go  ashore 
to  get  a  prayer  book,  but  cried  out,  '  Save,  Lord,  or  I 
perish.'  I  then  quit  the  stand  to  meet  an  ajtpointment 
that  afternoon,  and  the  congregation  followed,  with  the 
parson  in  the  rear.  When  leaving,  a  man  came  to  me 
and  asked  me  to  preach  at  his  house,  which  was  twenty 
miles  from  the  orchard.  These  things  are  hid  from  the 
wise  and  prudent,  and  revealed  unto  babes.  One  Sab- 
bath, while  I  was  preaching,  there  came  up  an  awful 
storm.  Some  of  the  people  ran  out  for  fear  the  house 
would  be  blown  over.  I  exhorted  them  to  continue  in 
the  house  and  look  to  God  for  safety.     I  hardly  ever  saw 


METHODIST    EPISGOTAL     CHURCH.         249 

such  a  house  of  prayer.  Two  were  converted  during  the 
storm,  and  our  lives  were  spared.  Salvation  is  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  pure  in  heart  shall  see' him  in  his  wonderful 
ways." 

Thus  did  the  young  evangelist  find  singular  encour- 
agements amid  the  peculiar  adversities  of  his  circuit. 
By  his  persevering  labors,  his  modest  courage,  his 
meekness  of  wisdom,  he  not  only  redeemed  it  from  the 
dishonor  which  his  predecessor  had  left  upon  it,  but 
subdued  the  violence  of  open  opposers,  and  left  it  in  un- 
usual prosperity,  united,  increased  in  members,  and  with 
a  great  door  opened  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.  It  re- 
ported at  the  next  Conference  a  gain  of  more  than  a  hund- 
red members,  and  such  was  the  demand  for  preaching 
that  two  itinerants  had  to  be  sent  to  it. 

In  accordance  with  the  rule  of  the  Conference,  Gatch 
was  transferred,  before  the  close  of  the  year,  back  to 
Frederick,  "  where,"  he  says,  "  we  had  to  labor  hard,  as 
formerly.  Some  Societies  were  lively  and  on  tlte  increase, 
but  others  were  barren.  One  Saturday  evening,  as  I 
was  going  to  my  Sabbath  appointment,  I  had  to  pass  by 
a  tavern.  As  I  approached  I  heard  a  noise  and  concluded 
mischief  was  contemplated.  It  was  dark,  and  I  bore  as 
far  from  the  house  as  I  could  in  the  lane  that  inclosed 
the  road ;  but  they  either  heard  or  saw  me,  and  I  was 
pursued  by  two  men  on  horseback,  Avho  seized  my  horse 
by  the  bridle,  and  turning  me  about,  led  me  back  to  the 
house,  heaping  upon  me  severe  threats,  and  laying  on  my 
shoulders  a  heavy  cudgel  that  was  carried  by  one  of 
them.  After  they  got  me  back  to  the  tavern  they 
ordered  me  to  call  for  something  to  drink ;  but  on  my 
refusal  the  tavern-keeper  whispered  to  me  that  if  I  would 
It  should  cost  me  nothing ;  but  I  refused  to  do  so,  regard- 
less of  the  consequences.     While  the  subject  as  to  what 


250  IlISTOliY    OF    THE 

disposition  was  to  be  made  of  me  was  under  consulta- 
tion, two  of  them  disagreed,  and  by  this  quarrel  the  at- 
tention of  the  conij)any  was  drawn  from  me,  so  that  I 
rode  on  ray  way,  leaving  them  to  settle  the  matter  as 
best  they  could.  The  Lord  hath  made  all  things  for  him- 
self, the  wicked  for  the  day  of  evil ;  the  wicked  brought 
me  into  difticulty,  and  by  the  wicked  a  way  was  made 
for  my  escape." 

He  reports  other  "persecutions"  as  "prevailing"  on 
-this  circuit.  Storms  were  gathering  around  the  whole 
horizon  of  the  country.  I*olitical  agitation  and  war 
were  about  to  relax  all  its  moral  ties,  and  the  Methodist 
itinerants  were  to  suffer  severely  in  the  general  tumult ; 
to  be  mobbed,  tarred  and  feathered,  imprisoned,  driven 
into  exile  or  concealment ;  but  they  were  not  men  who 
could  be  defeated  by  such  hostilities,  and  in  their  worst 
trials  they  showed  their  greatest  strength  and  won  their 
greatest  triumphs.  "  We  had,"  says  Gatch  on  Frederick 
Circuit,  "  this  consolation,  that  though  in  some  places  in- 
ditference  and  persecution  prevailed,  yet  in  others  the 
cause  was  prosperous,  and  many  joined  the  Church." 
The  increase  on  this  circuit,  for  the  year,  was  over  one 
hundred  and  sixty. 

Before  the  Conference  he  was  transferred  again,  as  far 
as  New  Jersey,  for  there  also  misfortune  cilled  for  his 
peculiar  talents.  "SVhitworth,  after  disgracing  the  denomi- 
nation on  the  Eastern  Shore,  had  gone  thither  and  per- 
verted Ebert,  one  of  the  circuit  preachers,  to  heretical 
opinions ;  Ebert  was  expelled,  the  circuit  was  left  some 
time  without  a  preacher,  and  Gatch  now  went  to  supply 
it  till  the  Conference.  Here  likewise  his  zeal  and  wisdom 
prevailed  ;  the  evil  effects  of  Ebert's  defection  were  coun- 
teracted, and  an  increase  of  fifty  members  was  reported 
from  the  circuit  to  the  next  Conference.     A  friend  of 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        251 

Gatch  justly  remarks  that  "the  Church  in  its  infancy  had 
peculiar  trials  to  endure.  The  reproach  of  Christ  had  to 
be  borne  ;  persecution  had  to  be  encountered  at  every 
step ;  few  as  were  its  members  there  were  traitors  in  it. 
And  yet  tliese  things  were  overcome  by  the  faithfulness 
of  a  few  who  were  in  the  field.  Since  the  days  of  the 
apostles  there  had  scarcely  been  a  time  when  so  much 
prudence,  firmness,  enduring  labor,  and  holiness  were 
required  as  in  the  propagation  of  Methodism  in  America. 
To  his  deep  piety  and  entire  devotion  the  success  of  Mr. 
Gatch  may  be  attributed.  His  prudence  was  wonderful 
on  being  sent  to  Kent  Circuit.  How  soon  did  he  retrieve 
the  Church,  and  eradicate  the  disgrace  which  had  been 
thrown  uj^on  it  by  his  predecessor.  This  beginning  of 
his  labors  was  an  earnest  of  what  results  might  be  antici- 
pated from  his  future  life."^  "  Gatch,"  says  one  of  the 
best  judges,  who  knew  him  well,  "showed  traits  of  char- 
acter eminently  calculated  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the 
time,  and  to  inculcate  and  carry  out  the  doctrines  he 
preached.  He  had  great  firmness  and  jDerseverance,  and 
was  ready  to  sufier  and  die  for  the  truth.  While  he 
acted  with  great  prudence,  he  shrunk  from  no  respons- 
ibility which  was  necessary  to  be  met  in  his  course  of 
duty."9 

Meanwhile  the  rough  energy  but  saintly  devotion  and 
apostolic  zeal  of  Abbott  were  awaking  large  portions  of 
New  Jersey.  Though  he  was  the  Class  Leader  and  prac- 
tically the  Pastor  of  the  Society  in  his  own  neighborhood, 
he  was  preaching  at  large  on  Sundays  and  at  nights.  He 
went  to  Deerfield,  where  a  mob  assembled  and  threatened 
to  tar  and  feather  any  itinerant  who  should  appear  there. 
He  was  met  by  a  friend  on  the  road  and  admonished  to 
turn  back.  "  At  first,"  he  says,  "  I  thought  I  w^ould 
8  Memoir,  p.  39.  '  Justice  M'Lean. 


252  HISTORY    OF    THE 

return;  consulting  with  flesh  and  blood,!  conduced  thai  it 
would  be  a  disagreeable  thing  to  have  my  clothes  spoiled, 
and  my  hair  all  matted  together  with  tar."  But  he  re- 
called the  sufferings  of  his  Lord,  and  immediately  "  re- 
solved to  go  and  preach  if  he  had  to  die  for  it."  He 
found  a  larjje  con<xre<;ation  filling  the  house  and  crowding 
the  neighboring  premises.  "  I  went,"  he  continues,  "  in 
among  them,  and  gave  out  a  liymn,  but  no  one  sung  ;  I 
then  sung  four  lines  myself,  while  every  joint  in  my  body 
tremlded.  I  said.  Let  us  pray,  and  before  prayer  was 
over  the  power  of  God  fell  on  me  in  such  a  manner  that 
it  instantly  removed  from  me  the  fear  of  man,  and  some 
cried  out,  I  arose,  took  my  text  and  preached  with  great 
liberty ;  before  the  meeting  was  over  I  saw  many  tears 
drop  from  tlieir  eyes,  and  the  head  of  the  mob  said  that 
'he  had  never  heard  such  jireaching  since  Robert  Will- 
iams went  away;'  so  I  came  off  clear.  Glory  be  to  God, 
who  stood  by  me  in  tliis  trying  hour !"  He  meets  soon 
after  with  a  ^^ethodist  preacher  who  talks  with  him 
about  Wesley's  views  of  sanctification,  and  he  resolves  to 
seek  that  higher  grace.  "  I  was  now,"  he  says,  "  engaged 
for  the  bles>ing  more  than  ever.  Soon  after,  Daniel  Ruff 
came  upon  the  circuit,  and  my  house  being  a  preaching 
place,  he  came  and  preached,  and  in  the  morning,  in 
family  j)rayer,  he  prayed  that  God  would  sanctify 
us  soul  and  body.  I  repeated  these  words  after  him, 
'Come,  Lord,  and  sanctify  me,  soul  and  IkxIvI'  Tliat 
moment  the  Spirit  of  God  came  iipon  me  in  such  a  inan- 
ner  that  I  fell  flat  to  the  floor.  I  had  not  power  to  lift 
hand  or  foot,  nor  yet  to  speak  one  word  ;  I  believe  I  lay 
half  an  hour,  and  felt  the  power  of  God  running  through 
every  part  of  my  soul  and  body,  like  fire  consuming  the 
inward  corruptions  of  fallen,  depraved  nature.  When  I 
arose  and  walked  out  of  the  door,  and  stood  pondering 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        253 

these  things  in  my  heart,  it  appeared  to  me  that  the 
whole  creation  was  praising  God ;  it  also  appeared  as  if 
I  had  got  new  eyes,  for  everything  appeared  new,  and  I 
felt  a  love  for  all  the  creatures  that  God  had  made,  and 
an  uninterrupted  peace  filled  my  breast.  In  three  days 
God  gave  me  a  full  assurance  that  he  had  sanctified  me, 
soul  and  body.  '  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words ;  and  my  Father  will  love  hhn,  and  we  will  come 
unto  him  and  make  our  abode  with  him,'  John  xiv,  23, 
which  I  found  day  by  day  manifested  to  my  soul,  by  the 
witness  of  his  Spirit.  Glory  to  God  for  what  he  then  did 
and  since  has  done  for  poor  me !" 

More  than  ever  did  his  soul  now  flame  with  zeal  for 
the  salvation  of  the  people.  He  soon  found  his  way  into 
Salem,  where  his  bones  now  rest,  and  where  he  is  still 
venerated  as  the  tutelary  saint  of  its  Methodist  commu- 
nity. "  A  large  congregation,"  he  writes,  "  assembled, 
to  whom  I  preached,  and  God  attended  the  word  with 
power  ;  some  cried  out  and  many  were  in  tears.  After 
the  sermon  I  made  another  appointment  for  that  day  two 
weeks.  There  being  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
present,  he  asked  me  if  I  would  come  and  preach  at  his 
house ;  I  told  him  that  I  would,  on  that  day  two  weeks, 
at  three  o'clock.  Another  said  it  was  the  truth  I  had 
spoken,  but  in  a  very  rough  manner.  At  the  time  ap- 
pointed I  attended,  and  found  many  people  at  both  places. 
At  the  first,  I  felt  much  freedom  in  speaking,  and  after 
sermon  found  that  both  the  man  and  his  wife  were  awak- 
ened. At  the  second,  great  power  attended  the  word  ; 
several  cried  aloud,  and  one  fell  to  the  floor.  After 
meeting,  I  asked  the  man  of  the  house  if  he  knew 
what  he  had  done.  He  replied,  '  What  have  I  done  ?' 
'  You  have  opened  your  door  to  the  Methodists,  and 
if  a  work  of  religion  break  out  your  people  will   turn 


254  HISTORY    OF    THE 

you  out  of  their  synagogue.'  lie  replied  that  he  'would 
die  for  the  truth.'  I  appointed  to  preach  again  at  both 
places  that  day  two  weeks.  Ne.\t  day,  on  my  return 
home,  I  called  at  a  Baptist's  house,  whose  daughter  was 
very  ill ;  after  some  conversation,  I  went  to  prayer,  and 
the  Lord  set  her  soul  at  liberty,  and  she  praised  God 
before  us  all.  Here  I  fell  in  company  with  one  of  White- 
field's  converts,  who  had  known  the  Lord  forty  years ; 
we  h.ad  great  comfort  in  conversing  together  ui)on  the 
things  of  God  ;  he  was  an  Israelite  indeed.  About  two 
years  after  he  came  to  see  me,  and  told  me  that  he  had 
come  to  die  at  my  house ;  accordingly  he  was  taken  sick, 
and  died  there  happy  in  God." 

The  good  seed  scattered  by  Whitefield  was  now  seen, 
by  the  Methodist  itinerants,  springing  up  ahnost  every- 
where along  the  AtLantic  coast. 

Abbott,  after  his  own  hard  struggles  with  the  "great 
adversary,"  felt  a  sort  of  bold  detiance  of  him,  and  was  j»re- 
pared  always  to  invade  his  strongest  holds.  He  now  made 
a  Sabbath  expedition  to  a  place  which,  for  its  notorious 
depravity,  was  called  "Hell  Xeck."  "  One  sinner  there," 
he  writes,  "  said  he  had  heard  Abbott  swear,  and  had  seen 
him  fight,  and  now  would  go  and  hear  him  preach.  The 
word  reached  his  heart,  and  he  soon  after  became  a  con- 
vert to  the  Lord.  After  meeting  he  invited  me  home 
with  him,  and  several  others  invited  me  to  preach  at 
their  houses,  so  that  I  got  preaching  j)laccs  all  through 
the  neighborhood  and  a  considerable  revival  of  religion 
took  ]>lace,  although  it  had  been  so  noted  for  wickedness. 
Among  others,  a  young  lad,  about  fifteen  years  old,  was 
awakened,  and  in  a  few  weeks  found  peace  ;  his  father, 
being  a  great  enemy  to  religion,  opposed  him  violently, 
and  resolved  to  prevent  his  being  a  Methodist,  and  even 
whipped   him   for  praying.     This  soon  threw  him  into 


.) 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        2<J0 

great  distress,  and  on  the  very  borders  of  despair.  I 
heard  of  it  and  went  to  see  him.  He  told  me  his  tempta- 
tions." Abbott  perceived  his  morbid  anxiety,  and  com- 
forted him.  "  The  son,"  he  adds,  "  then  cried  out,  '  The 
Lord  is  here !  the  Lord  is  here  !'  The  father  said  to  me, 
'  Benjamin,  are  you  not  a  freemason  V  I  told  him  '  no, 
I  knew  nothing  of  freemasonry,  but  I  knew  that  this  was 
th  e  operation  of  the  Spirit  of  God.'  The  father  then  wept. 
I  went  to  prayer,  and  the  family  were  all  in  tears  ;  after 
this  the  son  went  on  joyfully.  After  I  left  this  house  I 
went  to  another  of  the  neighbors,  and  after  some  conver- 
sation with  them  I  went  to  prayer ;  the  man  kneeled,  but 
the  woman  continued  knitting  all  the  time  of  the  prayer. 
When  I  arose  I  took  her  by  the  hand  and  said,  '  Do  you 
pray  ?'  and  looking  steadfastly  at  her,  added,  '  God  pity 
you.'  This  pierced  her  heart,  so  that  she  never  rested 
until  her  soul  was  converted  to  the  Lord.  The  whole 
neighborhood  seemed  alarmed." 

Such  quaintly  told  incidents  abound  throughout  the 
narrative  of  this  good  man's  life.  He  thus  "  went  about 
doing  good,"  and  in  his  devout  simplicity  and  earnestness 
rescued  more  souls  than  all  the  more  formal  pastors  for 
miles  around  him.  The  simple  but  degenerate  people 
understood  his  artless  words.  They  intuitively  recognized 
the  genuineness  of  his  religious  character,  the  purity  of 
his  motives,  and  as  he  concerned  himself  exclusively  with 
the  essential  truths  of  religion,  they  gladly  clung  to  him 
with  repentant  tears,  as  a  safe  guide  to  their  awakened 
souls.  The  prejudices  of  their  religious  education  could 
not  withstand  his  simple  and  aifectionate  appeals.  People 
of  all  denominations  gathered  in  his  congregations, 
and  often  an  individual  conversion  became  the  germ 
of  a  flourishing  society.  "  A  Quaker,"  he  says,  "  who 
one   day  came  to  hear  me,  asked  me  home  with  him; 


256  HISTORY    OF    THE 

when  I  entered  his  house  I  said,  '  God  has  brought 
salvation  to  this  house.'  At  prayer,  in  the  evening,  his 
daughter  was  struck  under  conviction,  and  soon  after  the 
old  man,  his  wife,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  were  all 
brouglit  to  experience  religion,  so  that  we  formed  a  con- 
siderable society." 

In  Mannington,  his  nearest  apj>ointment,  great  throngs 
altendtMl ;  the  man  and  his  wife,  at  whose  house  the  services 
were  held,  were  both  converted,  "and  many  others  were 
stirred  uj)  to  inquire  the  way  to  heaven."  lie  reached 
Woodstown,  where  he  had  a  crowded  house.  lie  was 
mobbed  there,  and  bayonets  were  presentetl  at  his  breast; 
"the  people  fled,"  he  says,  "every  way;  a  man  presented 
his  gun  and  bayonet  as  though  he  would  run  me  through  ; 
it  passed  close  by  my  car  twice.  If  ever  I  preached  the 
terrors  of  the  law,  I  did  it  while  he  was  threatening  me 
in  this  manner,  for  I  felt  no  fear  of  death,  and  soon  found 
he  could  not  withstand  the  force  of  truth;  he  gave  way 
and  retreated  to  the  door.  They  endeavored  to  send 
him  back  again,  but  in  vain,  for  he  refused  to  return." 

He  moved  his  family  to  a  new  home,  near  Salem; 
"here,"  he  continues,  "I  ha<l  many  doors  opened  for  me 
to  preach,  and  a  powerful  work  of  religion  took  place, 
attended  with  several  remarkable  conversions."  Many 
of  these  "remarkable"  occurrences  were  evidently  cases 
of  mental  as  well  as  of  moral  disease.  But  the  mental 
disturbance  which  not  unusually  attends  the  awakening 
of  the  conscience,  is  perhaps  an  unavoidable  effect  of  the 
discovery,  by  the  soul,  of  its  lf)ng  and  perilous  neglect 
of  its  highest  interest  and  duty.  Abbott  was  not  able 
scientifically  to  ajtpreciate  such  examples,  but  his  good 
common  sense  and  tender  evangelical  spirit  enaliled  him 
to  counsel  them  with  singular  pertinency ;  and  seldom 
or  never  did  he  fail  to  recover  such  suflerers,  more  effect- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         257 

ually  and  promptly  than  could  any  scientific  skill.  It  is 
astonishing  how  frequent  were  these  cases  among  people 
of  almost  every  variety  of  religious  education,  and  how 
aptly  and  successfully  he  treated  them.  "A  Quaker 
woman,"  he  says,  "  went  from  preaching  under  strong 
conviction,  and  such  anguish  of  mind  that  she  paid  no 
attention  to  her  family,  nor  even  to  her  sucking  child. 
Early  in  the  morning  I  was  sent  for :  when  I  arrived  she 
was  sitting  with  both  hands  clenched  fost  in  the  hair  of 
her  head,  crying  out,  '  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me  !  Save, 
Lord,  or  I  perish !'  I  told  her  to  pray  in  faith,  to  look 
to  Jesus,  and  lay  hold  of  the  promises,  and  God  would 
have  mercy  on  her;  but  she  replied,  'I  cannot  pray.' 
I  said,  'You  do  pray  very  well;  go  on.'  I  then  kneeled 
down  and  prayed ;  three  pious  women  who  were  pres- 
ent did  so  hkewise.  One  of  them  said  she  could  not 
pray  in  English.  I  told  her  to  pray  in  Dutchy  for  God 
understood  that  as  well  as  English.  The  distressed 
woman  appeared  to  be  worse,  like  one  going  distracted. 
I  then  sang.  When  the  last  words  were  sung  I  felt  such 
faith,  that  I  told  them  the  Lord  would  deliver  her ;  and 
said,  let  us  pray.  I  kneeled  down  ;  in  a  few  minutes  she 
clapped  her  hands  together  and  cried,  '  My  Lord,  my 
God,  and  my  Father !'  Her  soul  was  immediately  set  at 
liberty,  and  she  sprang  up,  rejoicing,  and  giving  glory  to 
God.  Her  husband  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  I  exhorted 
him  to  look  to  God,  and  he  would  find  mercy.  In  about 
six  weeks  after  he  was  safely  converted."  A  woman 
who  was  present  became  doubtful  of  her  own  conversion, 
because  she  had  never  had  any  of  these  remarkable  ex- 
periences. Abbott's  good  sense  was  again  shown.  "I 
told  her,"  he  says,  "  that  was  no  proof,  for  I  was  not 
wrought  on  in  that  manner  myself,  yet  I  knew  that  I 
was  converted.  God  works  upon  his  people  as  he  in  his 
A— 17 


258  HISTORY    OF    THE 

wisdom  sees  best;  no  one's  distress  can  be  a  standard 
for  another;  so  that,  if  our  sins  or  guilt  are  removed,  and 
the  power  of  religion  fixed  in  the  soul,  it  i?  enough. 
None  should  doubt  it  because  he  has  not  been  brought 
in  as  he  sees  others.  Tlie  Lord  blessed  her  with  such  light 
and  comfort  that  every  fear  and  doubt  was  removed." 
Another  instance  was  a  headstrong  Papist,  who  had 
sturdily  persecuted  his  wife  for  her  devotion  to  religion 
among  the  Methodists.  On  a  Sunday  morning  he  left 
her,  in  a  violent  passion,  because  she  would  not  spend 
the  day  with  him  in  visits,  rather  than  in  religious  serv- 
ices. "  But,"  says  Abbott,  "  before  he  had  gone  far  he 
concluded  he  would  return,  and  with  malice  and  murder 
in  his  heart,  dftormined  that  she  should  go  with  him,  or 
he  would  kill  her;  when  they  met  she  spoke  to  him  witli 
such  tenderness  that  his  rage  calmed  away.  He  con- 
cluded he  would  go  with  her  to  meeting;  they  both 
came,  and,  under  preaching,  the  word  struck  hitn  with 
such  jiower  that  he  cried  aloud,  and  told  before  all  the 
congregation  what  had  passed  in  the  morning,  and 
wanted  to  know  what  he  should  do  to  be  saved.  I  ex- 
plained to  him  tlie  way  and  ])lan  of  salvation ;  and  in 
a  short  time  he  found  peace,  and  became  a  steady, 
religious  man."  A  schoolmaster,  who  "  was  a  learned, 
sensil)le  man,  but  a  very  drunken  and  wicked  one, 
was  awakened,  and  so  far  reformed  that  he  left  off 
drinking  to  excess,  and  other  vices,  for  some  time,  but 
.again  gave  way  to  temptation  and  was  overcome  by 
strung  drink.  After  he  become  sober,  his  mind  was 
tormented  with  great  horror ;  he  went  to  a  neighbor's 
house  to  tarry  all  night,  but,  after  the  family  were 
all  in  bed,  he  could  not  sleep  under  his  tornunting  re- 
flections"— which  at  last  resulted  in  an  obvious  case 
of  mania   a  2^otu.     Aljbott  was  no  judge  of  such    a 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.        259 

phenomenon,  but  he  met  it  skillfully.  The  wretched 
man  thought  he  saw  devils  menacing  him.  The  whole 
family  was  alarmed  and  rose,  but  did  not  know  what  to 
do.  "  They  sent  over  for  me,"  says  Abbott ;  "  I  went, 
and  found  him  in  a  shocking  condition.  I  told  him  it 
was  only  the  strength  of  imagination;  thit  there  were 
no  devils  there  to  take  him  away ;  but  he  still  declared 
they  were  in  the  room.  I  instantly  went  to  prayer ;  all 
present  fell  upon  their  knees,  much  affected,  and  con- 
tinued in  supplication  during  the  whole  night.  Soon 
after  this  scene,  all  the  grown  part  of  the  family  were 
brought  into  the  liberty  and  knowledge  of  the  truth,  as 
it  is  in  Jesus." 

No  evangelist  of  that  day  was  more  successful  than 
Benjamin  Abbott,  and  there  can  be  no  more  truly  his- 
torical rationale  of  his  extraordinary  usefulness  than  is 
afforded  by  such  examples.  He  was  mighty  as  a  preacher, 
and  he  preached  with  the  expectation  of  such  immediate 
and  individual  results.  The  distinct,  demonstrative  ref- 
ormation and  salvation  of  individual  souls  were  the 
only  satisfactory  proofs  to  him  of  the  success  of  his  min- 
istry; and  he  sought  for  such  proofs  in  every  place  he 
visited,  after  every  sermon  he  delivered.  He  pursued 
them  to  their  utmost  results,  and  they  became,  as  has 
been  shown,  the  germs  of  many  of  the  Societies  which 
he  formed.  He  thus  combined,  with  his  overwhelming 
preaching,  a  species  of  most  important  pastoral  labor, 
without  which  his  public  exercises  would  have  lost  half 
their  value.  And  it  is  particularly  noteworthy  that  this 
unlettered  man  was  endowed,  as  we  have  seen,  chiefly  by 
the  effect  of  religion  on  his  own  mind,  with  so  much 
clear  and  genial  good  sense  as  to  be  particularly  apt  in 
ministering  to  minds  diseased,  so  common,  so  inevitable, 
perhaps  it  should  be  said,  in  times  of  religious  excite- 


260  HISTORY    OF    THE 

ment ;  not  so  much  the  effect  of  such  excitement  as  of 
the  previous  guilty  life,  then  often  suddenly  and  for  the 
first  time  revealed,  in  its  true  character,  to  the  awakened 
moral  sense.  Though  very  credulous  himself,  and  in  his 
early  religious  history  somewhat  fanatical,  inwardly  com 
bating  with  demons  and  seeing  wondrous  visions  of  the 
night,  yet,  like  Bunyan,  with  whose  early  religions 
struggles  his  own  were  so  remarkably  coincident,  he 
became  prudent,  and  "  mighty  in  the  Scrij)tures,"  and 
thus  acquired  uncommon  skill  in  the  ministration  of  com- 
fort to  morbid  consciences,  in  directing  them  from  delu- 
sive fears  to  the  cunsulatory  promises  and  the  simj»le  and 
gracious  conditions  of  acceptance  with  God.  "Withal  he 
attained  a  truly  scriptural  catholicity.  "  For  my  part," 
he  writes,  "  I  do  not  believe  that  religion  consists  in 
either  form  or  mode.  Neither  do  I  believe  a  record  of 
our  names,  on  any  church-book  under  heaven,  will  stand 
the  test  in  the  awful  hour  of  accounts,  unless  they  are 
recorded  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  I  love  real  heart 
religion,  let  me  find  it  where  I  may." 

Abbott's  fame  was  now  general,  and  "  the  work,"  he 
says,  "became  general;  we  used  to  hold  prayer-meet- 
ings two  or  three  times  a  week,  in  the  evening;  some- 
times we  would  begin  preaching  at  eleven  o'clock,  and 
not  part  till  night;  many  long  summer  days  we  thus 
spent.  Sometimes  we  used  to  assemble  in  the  woods  and 
under  the  trees,  there  not  being  room  in  the  house  for 
the  people  that  attended.  Often,  some  of  them  would  be 
struck  to  the  groimd  in  bitter  lamentations.  The  Lord 
wrought  great  wonders  among  us.  It  was  truly  a  fulfill- 
ment of  that  Scripture  which  says,  '  I  work  a  work  in 
your  days,  a  work  which  you  shall  in  no  wise  believe, 
though  a  man  declare  it  unto  you.'  Acts  xiii,  41.  The 
alarm  spread  far  and  near ;  friends  sent  for  me  to  come 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        261 

to  Now  Mills,  Peraberton,  about  sixty  miles  distant.  The 
first  time  I  preached  God  worked  powerfully ;  we  had  a 
weeping  time,  and  one  fell  to  the  floor ;  this  alarmed  the 
people,  for  they  had  never  seen  the  like  before;  when 
meeting  was  over,  we  took  him  to  a  friend's  house,  and 
prayer  was  made  for  him  till  he  rejoiced  in  the  love  of 
God.  Next  day  I  preached  again,  and  the  Lord  poured 
out  his  Spirit  among  us,  so  that  there  was  weeping  in 
abundance,  and  one  fell  to  the  floor ;  many  prayers  being 
made  for  him,  he  found  peace  before  he  arose.  He  is  a 
living  witness  to  this  day.  I  saw  him  not  long  since,  and 
we  had  a  precious  time  together.  Next  day  I  traveled 
some  miles,  and  preached  in  a  Presbyterian  meeting-house. 
I  had  a  large  congregation,  and  spoke  from  these  words, 
'  Ye  must  be  born  again.'  God  attended  the  word  with 
power;  some  wept,  some  groaned,  and  others  cried  aloud. 
I  believe  there  were  about  twenty  Indians  present,  and 
when  I  came  out  of  the  pulpit  they  got  all  round  me, 
asking  what  they  should  do  to  be  saved,  and  tears  ran  in 
abundance ;  many  of  the  white  people  also  wept.  This 
was  a  day  of  God's  power ;  from  the  accounts  afterward 
given  me,  it  appeared  that  twelve  were  converted  and 
many  awakened.  One  who  was  a  deacon  in  the  Church 
found  the  Lord  and  joined  our  Society;  I  have  spent 
many  precious  moments  with  him  since  that  day." 

These  physical  efiects  of  religious  excitement — the 
excesses  of  a  commendable  spiritual  earnestness — were 
not  peculiar  to  Methodist  preaching.  Outcries,  con- 
vulsions, syncopes,  had  been  common  in  the  province 
before  the  first  visit  of  Whitefield,  under  the  ministra- 
tions of  Rowland,  whose  hearers  "fainted  away,"  and 
were  often  carried  out  of  the  churches  as  dead  men. 
Similar  eflccts  attended  Whitefield's  preaching^''  there. 
>°  History  of  the  Eeligious  Movement,  etc.,  i,  142. 


262  HISTORY    OF    THE 

They  had  been  common  under  the  labors  of  Edwards,  in 
New  England.  The  best  Methodist  authorities  have  not 
considered  them  necessary  accompaniments  of  a  genuine 
religious  awakening,  but,  while  admitting  them  to  be 
hardly  avoidable  in  times  of  profound  religious  excite- 
ment, they  regret  them  as  human  intirinitics  and  recom- 
mend all  possible  caution  against  them." 

Thus  the  labors  of  this  energetic  man  went  on  from 
village  to  village,  town  to  town,  county  to  county,  till 
the  whole  state  felt,  more  or  less,  his  influence,  and  ac- 
knowledged that  he  was  a  strange  but  indisputable  power 
among  the  peoplo,  turning  scores  and  hundreds  "  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God." 
We  shall  frequently  meet  him  hereafter,  and  find  him 
growing  mightii-r  unto  the  end. 

William  Walters  was  also  abroad,  in  New  Jersey,  dur- 
ing most  of  this  ecclesiastical  year.  "The  latter  part  of 
the  winter,"  he  says,  "  and  through  the  spring,  many  in 
the  upper  end  of  the  circuit  were  greatly  wrought  on, 
and  our  meetings  were  lively  and  powei-ful.  The  cries 
of  the  i)eoj)le,  for  mercy,  were  frequently  loud  and  earnest. 
Several  who  had  long  rested  in  a  form  of  godliness  were 
brought  under  pressing  concern  and  found  the  Lord,  and 
many  of  the  most  serious  were  greatly  quickened.  I  was 
often  much  blessed  in  my  own  soul,  and  my  hands 
lifted  up,  which  were  too  apt  to  hang  down.  O  how 
sweet  to  labor  where  the  Lord  gives  his  blessing,  and 
'sets  open  a  door  which  no  man  can  shut!'  " 

John  King  traveled,  this  year,  the  Norfolk  Circuit,  Va., 
and  nearly  doubled  its  members.  Robert  Williams,  and 
three  other  preachers,  labored  on  the  Brunswick  Circuit, 
in  the  same  colony.  We  have  already  had  allusions  to 
his  success.  "  In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  there  was  a 
II  Bichard  Wataon:  "  Observations  on  Southey's  Life  ofWesley." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         263 

remarkable  revival  of  religion  in  most  of  the  circuits. 
Christians  were  much  united,  and  much  devoted  to  God, 
and  sinners  were  greatly  alarmed."  "Indeed,  the  Lord 
wrought  wonders  among  us  during  that  year,"  writes  the 
early  historian,  Jesse  Lee.  He  wrote  from  his  own  ob- 
servation, for  it  was  in  this  year  that  the  house  of  his 
father,  Nathaniel  Lee,  was  opened  as  a  "  preaching  place  " 
for  the  itinerants.  The  father  became  a  Class  Leader,  and 
two  of  his  sons,  John  and.  Jesse,  traveling  Preachers, 
taking  rank  among  the  most  effective  itinerants  of  their 
day.  Young  Jesse  Lee  was  now  going  "many  miles  on 
foot,"  by  night  and  by  day,  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the 
circuit.^2  Jarratt,  the  evangelical  Rector,  was  active  in 
this  revival ;  it  was,  in  fact,  but  a  continuance,  with  in- 
creased intensity,  of  that  extraordinary  religions  excite- 
ment which  has  already  been  noticed  as  prevailing  the 
preceding  year  throughout  this  part  of  the  state.  "  In 
the  spring  of  l7'74,  it  was,"  says  Jarratt,  "more  remark- 
able than  ever.  The  word  preached  was  attended  with 
such  energy  that  many  were  pierced  to  the  heart.  Tears 
fell  plentifully  from  the  eyes  of  the  hearers,  and  some 
were  constrained  to  cry  out.  A  goodly  number  were  gath- 
ered in,  this  year,  both  in  my  parish  and  in  many  of  the 
neighboring  counties.  I  formed  several  societies  of  those 
which  were  convinced  or  converted." '"  The  power  of 
this  "  Great  Revival"  was  seen  in  the  return  of  members 
from  Virginia,  at  the  end  of  the  ecclesiastical  year. 
The  two  circuits  of  the  province  became  three ;  its  less 
than  three  hundred  Methodists  multiplied  to  nearly  a 
thousand.  The  members  on  Brunswick  Circuit,  the  chief 
scene  of  the  revival,  increased,  from  less  than  two  bund- 
red  and  twenty,  to  eight  hundred. 

"  Lee's  Life  of  Lee,  p.  50. 

"  "  Brief  Narrative,"  etc.,  in  Asbury's  Journals,  i,  210. 


264  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Though  some  of  the  English  Preachers  had  returned 
to  England,  and  war  between  that  country  and  the  colo- 
nies was  now  imminent,  Wesley  sent  out  recruits  to  the 
small  company  of  itinerants,  for  he  believed  that,  what- 
ever might  be  the  issue  of  the  [tolitical  struggle,  ]Meth- 
odism  was  now  a  |>ernuinent  fact  in  the  moral  destiny  of 
the  New  Wi»rld,  and  should  be  thoroughly  fortified  for 
the  future,  the  more  so  as  the  political  troubles  of  the 
country  would  tend  to  retard  its  j)r<)gress.  Accordingly 
in  1774  James  Dempster  and  Martin  Rodda  were  sent 
out,  accompanied  by  William  Glendenning,  who  ajipoars 
to  have  come  with  them  as  a  volunteer,  like  Yearbry, 
the  companion  of  Hankin  and  Shadford.  They  arrived 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  year,  in  time  to  relieve  Asbury, 
in  New  York,  as  we  have  seen,  for  his  labors  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Baltimore.'* 

I)emj)stcr  was  a  Scotchman  of  good  education,  having 
studied  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  He  traveled 
about  ten  years  in  the  We.sleyan  itinerancy,  and  Wesley's 
correspondence  with  him  shows  that  he  had  the  highest 
respect  of  that  great  man.  At  the  American  Conference 
of  1775  he  was  aj)pointed  to  New  York,  but  his  health 
soon  failed ;  he  married,  and  the  same  year  retired  from 
the  denomination.  lie  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church 
"  with  a  distinct  avowal  of  his  adherence  to  the  Wes- 
leyan  doctrines,  of  which  his  views  never  changed,"'*  and 
was  "an  acceptable  minister  of  that  Church  as  long  as 
he  lived."'*  He  was  settled  as  pastor  of  a  society  at 
Florida,  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  at- 
tacked with  sudden  disease  in  the  pulpit,  and  died,  ten 

'♦  Lednum,  p.  143.  Snndfonl  aud  Wakeley  say  they  arrived  in  177.'3, 
an  error.     See  Asbnry's  Jour.,  Nov.  9,  19,  and  24,  1774. 

''  Letter  of  liia  son,  Rev.  Dr.  Dempster,  to  Kev.  Dr.  Coggeshall.  Cog- 
gcshuU'a  Manuscript  Life  of  Asbury,  chap.  5. 

'•  Sandford,  p,  30. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHI  RCH.        265 

days  afterward,  in  1804.  He  gave  a  son  to  Methodism, 
who  has  done  distinguished  service  in  its  ministry,  its 
missions,  and  its  educational  institutions." 

Martin  Rodda  had  traveled  about  twelve  years  before 
his  departure  for  America.  He  remained  here  less  than 
three  years,  and  incurred  the  animadversions  of  his  breth- 
ren by  imprudently  intermeddling  Avith  the  political 
controversies  of  the  period.  He  is  accused  of  having 
circulated  over  his  circuit,  in  Delaware,  the  royal  procla- 
mation against  the  American  patriots ;  and  much  of  that 
fierce  persecution  which  his  brethren  in  the  ministry 
suffered  after  his  departure,  as  we  shall  soon  see,  was 
the  consequence  of  his  indiscretion.'^  He  had  to  flee  from 
the  country,  and  made  his  escape,  by  the  aid  of  slaves, 
to  the  British  fleet,  whence  he  was  conveyed  to  Philadel- 
phia, then  in  possession  of  the  English  army,  and  thence 
to  England.  He  resumed  his  ministerial  travels  under 
Wesley,  but  in  1781  disappeared  from  the  British  Min- 
utes. 

Glendenning,  after  some  years'  service  in  the  American 
itinerancy,  followed  the  example  of  Dempster  and  left 
the  denomination.  This  entire  company,  of  what  are 
called  Wesley's  American  missionaries,  seem  to  have 
been  unfortunate  in  their  relations  to  their  American 
brethren.  It  was  now  a  time  that  tried  men's  souls. 
"  The  dreadful  cloud,"  writes  Walters,  "  that  had  been 
hanging  over  us  continued  to  gather,  thicker  and  thicker, 
so  that  I  was  often  bowed  down  before  the  God  of  the 

"  Lee  (p.  318)  marks  the  disappearance  of  James  Dempster,  from  the 
Conference  Minutes,  unfavorably.  Bangs  (vol.  iv,  Alph.  List,  p.  11) 
uses  an  anomalous  but  charitable  evasion.  Asbury,  and  Lednum, 
(p.  143,)  on  his  authority,  allude  disparagingly  to  him.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind,  however,  that  marriage,  and,  especially,  a  change  of 
denomination  by  an  itinerant,  were  considered  in  that  early  day  very 
grave  matters,  if  not  ofl'enscs. 

•s  Ezekiel  Cooper  on  Asbury,  p.  81. 


266  HISTORY    OF    THE 

whole  earth."  In  two  or  three  years  more  all  the  En- 
glish missionaries  had  fled  from  the  country,  or  had  left 
the  denomination,  except  xVsbury,  whose  loyalty  to  the 
Church  was  superior  to  his  loyalty  to  the  British  throne. 
Providentially,  however,  a  native  ministry  had  not  only 
been  begun,  in  time  for  this  exigency,  but  was  about  to 
be  reinforced  by  some  of  the  ablest  men  Avith  which 
American  Protestantism  has  been  blessed.  Not  a  few 
of  them  were  already  preparing,  in  comparative  obscu- 
rity, for  their  great  careers.  They  were  to  attain  an  im- 
portance in  their  own  denomination,  if  not  in  the  general 
Christianity  of  the  land,  hardly  less  imposing  than  that 
which  at  last  distinguished  their  cotcmporaries,  the  rising 
statesmen,  the  great  founders  of  the  Kepublic;  and  As- 
bury  himself  was,  by  his  steadfastness,  his  administrative 
ability  and  success,  to  become,  in  the  regards  of  the 
former,  what  "Washington  became  in  the  regards  of  the 
latter.  In  the  autumn  of  1774,  while  the  storm  of  war 
was  lowering  over  the  east,  he  wrote :  "  A  solemn  report 
was  brought  to  the  city  to-day  that  the  men-of  war  had 
fired  on  Boston.  A  fear  rose  in  my  mind  of  what  might 
be  the  event  of  this.  But  it  was  soon  banished  by  con- 
sidering, I  must  go  on  and  mind  my  own  business,  which 
is  enough  for  me,  and  leave  all  these  things  to  the  provi- 
dence of  God."  Besides  these  public  alarms,  he  had  to 
endure,  in  submissive  quietness,  grievous  inconveniences 
from  the  administration  of  Rankin  ;  his  plans  of  labor 
were  defeated  or  checked  by  that  honest  but  obstinate 
Englishman,  whose  foreign  prejudices  seemed  to  bewilder 
him  amid  the  prevailing  public  agitations,  and  who  en- 
tirely failed  to  comprehend  tl.^.  genius  of  the  American 
people,  and,  with  much  good,  entailed  much  mischief  on 
American  Methodism. 
Darker  days  were  now  at  hand.     The  country  was  rife, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUKCH.        267 

not  only  with  political  clamors,  but  with  the  preparations 
of  war.  Methodism  was  to  pass  from  its  feeble  infancy 
into  vigorous  adolescence,  tested  .and  strengthened  by 
severest  trials.  The  necessity  of  its  mission  in  the  new 
world  was  to  be  demonstrated,  and  its  providential  career 
fully  opened  by  the  most  momentous  revolution  of  mod- 
ern states.  "We  shall  behold  it  hesitating  not  before  the 
fiery  ordeal  which  is  to  try  it,  but  entering  it  courage- 
ously and  communing  there  with  "  a  form  like  the  Son  of 
God,"  and  coming  forth  at  last  renewed  in  all  its  ener- 
gies, •*  rejoicing  as  a  strong  man  to  run  a  race." 


BOOK    11. 

FROM  THE   BEGINNING   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONARY    WAR,  TO   THE 
EPISCOPAL  ORGANIZATION  OF  METHODISM,  1775-1784. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    REVOLUTION    AND    METHODISM. 

Effect  of  the  Eevolution  on  Methodism  —  Providential  Character  of  the 
Eevolution  —  It  was  the  Normal  Consequence  of  the  Colonial  History 
of  the  Country  —  It  was  not  at  first  Eebellion,  but  a  Struggle  for  the 
Maintenance  of  the  British  Constitution  —  Chatham's  Vindication  of 
the  Colonies  —  Effect  of  the  War  on  Eeligion  — Desertion  of  their 
Church  by  the  English  Clergy  —  Eeturn  of  English  Methodist  Preach- 
ers—  Sufferings  of  the  Methodist  Itinerants  —  Asbury's  Integrity  — 
Wesley's  "Calm  Address"  to  the  Colonies  —  The  Sarcasm  of  Junius 
—  Wesley  and  Johnson  — Wesley  corrects  his  Opinion  on  the  Colo- 
nial Question  —  He  predicts  the  Success  of  the  Americans  —  His  Ad 
dress  to  his  American  Preachers. 

The  American  Revolution  was  now  impending  and  inev- 
itable. It  was  to  have  a  profound  effect  on  Methodism, 
for  American  independence  implied  the  independence  of 
American  Methodism.  The  latter  virtually  became  indc 
pendent  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  the  constitu- 
tion, which  organized  it  into  the  "Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,"  was  to  be  adopted  in  about  one  year  after  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  Great  Britain,  and  to  precede  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  by  about  five  years. 
The  new  Church  was  to  be  the  first  religious  body  of  the 
country  which  should  recognize,  in  its  organic  laAV,  by  a 
solemn  declaration  of  its  Articles  of  Religion,  the  new 


270  HISTORY     OF    THE 

Republic;  the  first  to  pay  homage,  in  the  persons  of  its 
cliief  representatives,  its  first  Bishops,  to  the  supreme 
Magistracy. 

The  Revohition  was  the  normal,  the  necessary,  that  is 
to  say,  the  providential  consequence  of  the  geographical 
condition  and  colonial  training  of  the  American  people. 
Territorially,  these  colonies  were  a  vast  empire,  remote 
and  defined  from  the  rest  of  the  civilized  world,  by  an 
ocean  whose  waters  stretched,  between  the  two,  from  pole 
to  pole.  The  country  possessed  resources  for  national 
prosperity  unetjualed  in  any  other  empire  on  the  earth. 
In  some  of  these  resources,  and  those  the  most  important 
for  manufactures  and  commerce,  it  surpassed  all  other 
civilized  nations  combined.  God  never  designed  a  ])Cople, 
in  such  circumstances,  to  be  a  perpetual  dependency  of  a 
distant  and  less  capable  power.  In  the  history  of  nations 
Providence  means  progress,  and  progress  imjilies  the 
necessary  development  of  a  people  of  superior  cajtabilities, 
whether  in  race  or  in  position,  into  superior  relations 
with  other  nations. 

The  colonial  training  of  the  American  jioople  was,  as 
we  have  seen,  providentially  correspondent  with  their 
destiny.  Most  of  them  had  come  to  the  new  world  for 
relief  from  religious  oppressions  or  disabilities — Puritans 
ajid  Quakers  from  Kngland,  Scotch  Presbyterians  from 
the  north  of  Ireland,  Pal.atines  from  the  Rhine,  Hufjue- 
nots  from  France,  Waldenses  from  Piedmont,  Methodists 
from  Ireland.  It  was  impossible  that  such  a  people, 
when  grown  to  social  maturity,  their  settlements  ex- 
panded to  such  contiguity  that  they  blended,  their  various 
tongues  nearly  lost  in  a  common  language,  should  not 
become  conscious  of  a  community  of  interest  in  religious 
toleration  and  liberty,  and  a  common  hostility  to  the  for- 
eign system  which  had  oppressed  them  and  banished  thera 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         271 

from  the  homes  of  their  fathers.  They  needed  but  to 
hear  the  tocsin  of  revolt  sounded  through  the  land,  to 
rise  and  rend  the  remaining  shreds  of  traditional  attach- 
ments which  connected  them  with  the  foreign  world. 
And  though  this  revolt  was  from  the  most  liberal  Euro- 
pean government  of  the  age,  yet  that  government  still 
retained  ecclesiastical  characteristics  with  which  most  of 
them  had  no  sympathy,  an  Establishment  to  which  most 
of  them  were  hostile  from  ineradicable  recollections  of 
wrongs  and  sufferings,  as  well  as  from  conscientious  scru- 
ples. The  hierarchy  of  Great  Britain  was  to  them  a 
form  of  antichrist,  and  it  was  an  integral  part  of  the 
constitution  of  Great  Britain.  The  religious  ties  of  a 
people  are  their  strongest  social  bond  ;  the  colonies,  with 
local  exceptions,  had  no  longer  any  such  ties  with  En- 
gland, so  far  at  least  as  its  ecclesiastical  system  was  con 
cerned.  Under  that  system  their  brethren,  in  the  parent 
land,  still  suffered  grievous  disabilities.  The  "  Five  Mile 
Act,"  the  "  Conventicle  Acts,"  the  "  Acts  of  Toleration," 
still  imposed  disparagements  and  oppressions  which  the 
American  conscience  could  not  but  resent ;  for,  however 
locally  exempt  from  the  execution  of  these  obnoxious 
statutes,  many  of  the  Americans,  being  immigrants,  had 
known  their  evil  power,  and  had  come  from  families  and 
religious  communions  which  still  felt  it.  Down  even  till 
near  half  a  century  after  the  American  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, the  Methodists,  and  other  dissenters  of  En- 
gland, struggled  under  these  disabilities,  interpreted  by 
the  judicial  authorities  in  such  manner  as  would  have  ex- 
tinguished their  chief  religious  powers  had  they  not  in 
1810,  chiefly  under  the  leadership  of  Methodism,  agitated 
the  realm  with  remonstrances,  and  procured  an  act  of 
Parliament  which  swept  away  the  barbarous  "Five 
IMile  Act"    and  the  "Conventicle  Acts,"  and  secured 


272  HISTORY    OF    THE 

religious  liberty,  for  the  first  time,  to  the  British 
people.' 

The  colonial  population  had  also,  as  has  been  shown, 
receive<l  a  thorough  military  training  preparatory  for  the 
war  of  Itulepentlence.  Its  almost  incessant  wars  Avith 
the  savages,  and  especially  the  two  French  wars,  (1744- 
1V48  and  1755-1763,)  had  ma<le  its  militia  veterans;  and 
Europe  was  at  last  surprised  to  find  tlu'in,  at  the  out- 
■  break  of  the  Revolution,  not  only  brave  enough  to  chal- 
lenge the  hitherto  invincible  arms  of  England,  but  com- 
jtetent  to  defeat  them. 

The  people  were  in  advance  of  the  social  condition  of 
any  European  population  of  that  period.  They  had  been 
educated  to  self-government.  In  large  portions  of  the 
country  they  had  the  best  municipal  systems  then  to  be 
found  on  tlie  earth ;  the  maturest  social  order,  managed 
throughout  their  cities,  towns,  and  villages  by  themselves 
in  "town  meetings;"  the  least  amount  of  pauperism  and 
crime ;  the  largest  amount  of  popular  intelligence,  sus- 
tained by  "common  schools."  Before  the  Revolution 
institutions  for  higher  education  liad  sprung  up,  from 
New  Hampshire  to  Virginia ;  there  were  at  least  nine 
colleges  and  two  medical  schools,  located  at  suitable  in- 
tervals, in  the  most  im|)ortant  colonies. 

But,  though  thus  morally  as  well  as  geograj)hically 
severed  from  the  parent  land,  and  though  the  most  far- 
seeing  minds  could  not  fail  to  perceive  the  coming  inde- 
pendence, the  public  mind  was  not  rash ;  it  retained  many 
affectionate  remembrances  of  England.  The  people  were 
not  rebels;  during  many  years  the  struggle  was  not  for 
independence,  but  for  their  long-conceded,  yet  now  in- 
vaded rights  as  subjects  of  the  British  Constitution.  The 
moral  sense  of  the  colonies  would  not  have  allowed  thera 
*  History  of  the  Religious  Movement,  etc.,  iii,  p.  200. 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        273 

to  revolt  from  that  constitution  had  it  been  justly  admiu- 
istered.  But  after  the  overthrow  of  the  French  power 
in  North  America  and  the  Treaty  of  Paris  in  1703,  by 
which  most  of  the  continent  came  under  British  control 
it  became  the  persistent  policy  of  the  home  government 
to  reduce  the  chartered  liberties  of  the  colonies,  to  con- 
solidate the  provinces,  and  to  extend  over  them  the  power 
of  the  crown  in  a  manner  which  was  not  only  unauthor- 
ized by  their  charters,  but  would  not  have  been  toler- 
ated among  the  people  of  England  themselves.  For  years 
the  Board  of  Trade  attempted  intolerable  impositions  on 
the  commercial  enterprise  of  the  colonies.  The  independ- 
ence of  the  judiciary  was  invaded.  The  "  Stamp  Act," 
more  than  ten  years  before  the  revolt  of  the  colonies,  at 
last  made  a  breach  that  never  could  be  repaired.  It  was 
not  so  much  the  pecuniary  oppression  of  this  act  that  of- 
fended the  people,  but  its  violation  of  the  established 
principle  of  English  liberty,  that  British  subjects  cannot 
be  taxed  without  their  consent  in  Parliament.  Taxation 
w^ithout  representation  was  the  grievance.  The  act  ^Tis 
repealed  in  less  than  one  year,  for  it  was  found  impossible 
to  enforce  it ;  but  with  its  abrogation  Parliament  still  de- 
clared its  own  power  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases 
whatsoever.  The  repeal  of  the  act  was  not,  therefore,  a 
repeal  of  its  oppressive  principle.  A  year  later  another 
act  of  taxation  was  passed,  but  in  three  years  this  also 
was  repealed,  except  the  duty  on  tea;  a  single  exception, 
however  in  itself  unimportant,  involved  the  fundamental 
question  as  really  as  a  thousand  or  ten  thousand ;  and  the 
people,  exasperated  by  continued  oppression,  not  only 
refused  to  use  tea,  but  burned  it  or  threw-  it  into  the  sea 
from  the  foreign  ships  in  their  harbors.  Their  forbear- 
ance had  been  long ;  they  asked  not  a  single  new  right, 
but  the  protection  of  the  constitution ;  the  most  able 
A— 18 


274  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Statesmen  of  England,  Pitt,  Burke,  Fox,  and  others,  de- 
fended tlieir  claim  as  just.  Pitt,  now  in  the  House  of 
Peers  as  Lord  Chatham,  had  said,  "This  resistance  to 
your  arbitrary  system  of  taxation  might  have  been  fore- 
seen from  the  nature  of  thin<rs  and  of  mankind  ;  above 
all  from  tlie  Whiggish  si)irit  flourishing  in  that  country. 
The  spirit  which  now  resists  your  taxation  in  America 
is  the  sanu'  which  formerly  opposed  Loans,  Benevolences, 
and  Ship-Money  in  England  ;  the  same  which,  by  the 
'  Hill  of  Rights,'  vindicated  the  English  Constitution ; 
the  same  which  established  the  essential  maxim  of  your 
liberties,  that  no  subject  of  Enghuid  shall  be  taxed  but 
by  his  oMn  consent.  Let  this  distinction,  then,  remain 
forever  ascertained  :  taxation  is  theirs,  commercial  regu- 
lation is  ours.  They  say  you  have  no  right  to  tax  them 
without  their  consent ;  they  say  truly.  I  recognize  to 
the  Americans  their  supreme,  unalienable  right  to  their 
)>roperty  ;  a  right  which  they  are  justified  in  the  defense 
of  to  the  last  extremity."*  The  colonial  assemblies  sent 
to  England  memorials,  entreaties,  and  eminent  messen- 
gers, among  whom  was  Franklin,  jdedging  their  loyalty 
to  the  throne  and  praying  for  relief;  but  new  and  still 
more  oppressive  me:isures  were  enacted,  especially  to- 
ward Massachusetts.  Troops  were  dispatched  to  the 
colonies.  The  latter  began  to  prepare  to  defend  them- 
selves ;  they  met  in  Congress ;  they  raised  forces  ;  their 
])urj)ose  was  stem,  but  it  was  deliberate  and  conscien- 
tious. They  were  willing  yet  to  avert  the  alternative  of 
war,  of  disunion.  The  first  Congress  declared  (1774)  to 
England  its  willingness  to  endure  the  severe  commercial 
grievances  of  the  system  of  176.3,  if  only  the  constitutional 
right  of  the  colonies  be  maintained.  "  You  have  been 
told  that  we  are  impatient  of  government  and  desirous 
»  Bancroft,  vii,  p.  198. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        275 

of  independency.  These  are  calumnies.  Permit  us  to 
be  as  free  as  yourselves,  and  we  shall  ever  esteem  a  union 
with  you  to  be  our  greatest  glory  and  our  greatest  hap- 
piness. But  if  you  are  determined  that  your  ministers 
shall  wantonly  sport  with  the  rights  of  mankmd;  if 
neither  the  voice  of  justice,  the  dictates  of  law,  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  constitution,  or  the  suggestions  of  humanity, 
can  restrain  your  hands  from  shedding  human  blood  in 
such  an  impious  cause,  we  must  then  tell  you  that  we 
will  never  submit  to  any  ministry  or  nation  in  the  world.'" 
Such  was  the  considerate  but  brave  language  of  the  rep- 
resentative assembly  of  the  colonies,  written  by  the 
purest  statesman  of  modern  times,  John  Jay.  The  city  of 
London  appealed  to  the  king,  sustaining  th^  claim  of  the 
colonies  and  denouncing  the  policy  of  the  government  as 
an  attempt  of  the  Ministry  to  "  establish  arbitrary  power 
over  all  America."  But  the  clock  of  destiny  was  striking ; 
the  inevitable  contest  broke  out  in  the  year  which  we 
have  now  reached  in  the  annals  of  American  Methodism. 
Before  the  session  of  its  next  Conference  blood  was 
spilt  at  Concord  and  Lexington.  The  nation  rose  at  once 
to  arms.  The  possibility  of  reconciliation  was  gone  for- 
ever, and  the  independent  career  of  the  new  world  began. 
Thus  considered,  the  American  Revolution  bore  a 
moral  character  to  which  the  American  Methodists  could 
not  be  indifferent.  Neither  they  nor  their  native  preach- 
ers were  opposed  to  it,  though  the  presence  and  control- 
ling authority  of  their  English  missionaries  held  them 
somewhat  in  check  and  provoked  against  them  public 
suspicion.  War  is  always  a  crime  on  one  side  or  the 
other  of  the  contestants,  and  a  crime  of  such  contagious 
enormity  that  it  is  always  demoralizing,  temporarily,  at 
least,  to  the  communities  which  suffer  from  it,  as  well  a? 
3  Bancroft,  vii,  p.  148. 


276  UISTORY    OF    THE 

to  those  who  inflict  it.  The  cotemporaneous  influence 
of  the  Revolution  on  the  religious  condition  of  the  colo- 
nies was  generally  bad.  Political  and  military  events 
absorbed  the  public  attention.  Infidelity,  especially 
through  the  influence  of  Thomas  Paine,  a  conspicuous 
leader  of  the  revolt,  spread  rapidly.*  The  colonial  clergy 
of  the  English  Church  were  mostly  foreigners,  and  were 
loyal, to  the  British  Crown.  We  should  not  too  readily 
condemn  them  fur  this  fact.  If  their  loyalty  was  a  fault, 
it  was  a  naturjil  and  pardonable  consequence  of  their  ed- 
ucation. They  quite  generally  deserted  the  coimtry. 
"We  have  seen  that  the  first  Legislature  chosen  by  the 
people  of  Virginia  established  the  Anglican  Church,  and 
that  there  was,  the  next  year,  a  j)astor  for  every  six 
hundred  of  its  population.  We  have  seen  also  the  Evan- 
gelical Virginian  rector,  Jarratt,  writing  to  Wesley,  as 
late  as  1773,  that  the  colony  then  had  ninety-five  i)ar- 
ishes,  all  of  which,  except  one,  were  sui»plied  with 
clergymen.  But  he  knew  of  but  one,  besides  himself, 
who  entertained  evangelical  sentiments,  and  the  alarm 
of  war  was  the  signal  for  their  general  aliandonment 
of  their  people.  The  historian  of  their  Church  in  Vir- 
ginia has  recorded  the  fact  in  significant  statistics.  He 
mays,  "When  the  colonists  first  resorted  to  arms,  Vir- 
ginia, in  her  sixty-one  counties,  contained  ninety-five 
parishes,  sixty-four  churches  and  chapels,  and  ninety- 
one  clergymen.  When  the  contest  was  over,  she  came 
out  of  the  war  with  a  large  number  of  her  churches 
destroyed  or  injured  irreparably;  with  twenty-three  of 
her  ninety-five  parishes  extinct  or  forsaken,  and  of  the 
remaining  seventy-two,  thirty-four  were  destitute  of 
ministerial  services ;  while  of  her  ninety-one  clergymen 

*  Paine's  chief  work,  "  The  Age  of  Reason,"  was  published  later,  bu 
his  opLuious  were  generally  circulated. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        277 

twenty-ei,M  o.ly  remained,  who  had  lived  through  the 
Btorm,  and  these,  with  eight  others,  who  can-  -to  the 
state  soon  after  the  struggle  terminated,  supplied  thuty- 
six  of  the  parishes.     Of  these  twenty-eight,  fifteen  only 
had   been   enabled  to  continue  in  the   churches  which 
they  supplied  prior  to  the  commencement  of  hostilities, 
and  thirteen  had  been  driven  from  their  cures  by  vio- 
lence or  want,  to  seek  safety  or  comfort  in  some  one  of 
the  many  vacant  parishes,  where  they  might  hope  to  find, 
for  a  time  at  least,  exemption  from  the  extremity  of  suff- 
enn<.^     It  was  this  prostration  of  the  English  Church 
in  the   colonies  that  rendered   necessary-providential, 
it  maybe  said,  without  uncharitableness-the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  as  we  shall  here- 

Meanwhile  the  latter  was  relieved,  by  the  Revolution, 
of  its  foreign  missionaries  and  of  foreign  control.    It  was 
launched  upon  the  tide  of  events  to  be  managed  by 
native  men,  except  one,  Asbury,  whose  far-seemg  wis- 
dom  and  generous  sympathy  with  the  colonial  cause,  if 
they  could  not  at  first  completely  counteract  his  British 
loyalty,  so  far  qualified  it  as  to  restrain  him  from  any 
rash  concession  to  it,  and  kept  him  in  the  country,  till 
the  providential  course  of  events  fully  revealed  to  him 
his  duty  to  remain  with  the  infant  Church,  and  at  last  to 
recognize  heartily  the  liberation  of  the  colomes  as  the 
beneficent  will  of  God.     The  imitation  of  the  example 
of  the  Anglo-American  clergy,  by  the  Anglo-Amencan 
Methodist  preachers,  brought  severe  sufi-ering  upon  the 
Methodist  ministry  generally.     "  They  had,"  says  one  of 
them    who   witnessed  their    afilictions,  "almost  msup- 
portable  difficulties,  violent  oppositions,  bitter  persecu- 
tions, and  grievous  suff-erings  to  endure.    So  many  of  the 
B  Hawks's  Contributions,  etc.,  p.  153. 


278  HISTORY    OF    THE 

preachers  being  Englishmen,  and  "Wesley,  who  was  con- 
sidered the  founder  and  chief  ruler  of  the  Methodist 
societies,  being  in  England,  and  known  to  be  loyal  to 
his  king,  and  of  course  unfi'iendly  to  the  American  meas- 
ures, occasioned  jealousies  and  susjiicions  that  the  Meth- 
odists M'ere,  politically,  a  dangerous  people.     Also  the 
moral  views  and  the  conscientious  scruples  of  the  people 
called  Methodists,  not  being  favorable,  on  general  prin- 
ciples, to  the  spirit  and  practice  of  war,  on  this  ground 
also,  the  temper   of  the  times,  combining   with   other 
prejudices   and  passions  of  the  day,  excited  jealousies 
which    occasioned    an    evil    report    or    alarm    that    the 
Methodists,  preachers  and  people,  were  opposed  to  the 
American    Revolution.      However   untrue  or   incorrect 
these  inferences  were,  yet  nevertheless,  perhaps,  some  of 
the  Methodists  were  to  blame.     I  do  not  hesitate  to  ad- 
mit the  improper  conduct  of  some.     I  feel  no  disposition 
to  conceal  that  a  few  of  the  preachers  were  imi»rudent 
and  reprehensible  in  some  things,  and  gave  too  much 
cause  for  such  susjticions.     Rodda,  in  particular,  acted 
improperly,  and  left  the    country  under    circumstances 
imfavorable  to  his  reputation,  and  hurtful  to  the  cause 
of  religion.     Captain  Webb  also  did  not  act  so  well  as 
he  ought  to  have  done.     Rankin  likewise  had  spoken  so 
freely  and  imprudently  on  public  affairs  as  to  excite  the 
jealous  fear  that  his  influence  would  be  dangerous  to  the 
American  cause.     So  it  was  that  the  way  of  the  preach- 
ers on  every  side  was  almost  hedged  up ;  and  for  a  con- 
siderable time  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty,  and  at 
the  greatest  risk  of  personal  safety,  that  they  could  travel 
and  preach  at  all."* 

Asbury,  however,  is  acquitted  of  any  such  blame  by 
this    cotemporaneous    authority.     The   conduct    of  his 
•  Cooper  on  Asbuiy,  p.  80. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH.        279 

English  coadjutors,  we  are  assured,  was  "  considered  by 
him  exceptionable  and  unjustifiable."  "  When  the  times 
were  about  the  worst,  Asbury  and  Shadford  agreed  to 
make  it  a  matter  of  fastmg  and  prayer  for  direction,  in 
their  straits  and  difficulties,  what  to  do ;  whether  to  stay 
in  the  country,  or  return  to  England,  Shadford  con- 
cluded that  he  liad  an  answer  to  leave  the  country  and 
return  to  England ;  but  Asbury,  who  received  an  answer 
to  stay,  replied,  'If  you  are  called  to  go,  I  am  (lalled  to  stay; 
so  here  we  must  part.'  Accordingly  they  parted,  to  meet 
no  more  on  earth.  From  that  moment  he  made  America 
his  country  and  his  home.  He  resolved  to  abide  among 
us,  and  at  the  risk  of  all,  even  of  life  itself,  to  continue  to 
labor  and  to  suflTer  with  and  for  his  American  brethren. 
Oppositions,  reproaches,  and  persecutions  rushed  in 
against  them  from  every  quarter  like  a  tempest.  During 
the  whole  period  of  conflict  and  danger  his  manner  of 
life  was  irreproachable.  His  prudence  and  caution  as  a 
man  and  a  citizen,  his  pious  and  correct  deportment  as  a 
Christian  and  a  minister,  were  such  as  to  put  at  defiance 
the  suspicious  mind  and  the  tongue  of  slander.  They 
were  never  able  to  substantiate  any  allegation,  or  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  charge  against  him,  that  was  incompatible 
with  the  character  of  a  citizen,  a  Christian,  or  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  Gospel.  He  never  meddled  with  politics ; 
but  in  those  days  of  suspicion  and  alarm,  to  get  a  preacher 
or  a  society  persecuted  it  was  only  necessary  to  excite 
suspicion,  sound  the  alarm,  and  cry  out  '  Enemies  to  the 
country !'  or  '  Tories !'  " 

This  same  high  authority  draws  a  dark  picture  of  the 
sufferings  of  the  Methodist  ministry  during  these  trying 
times.  "  I  shall,"  he  says,  "  principally  confine  myself  to 
Maryland,  my  native  state,  w^here  I  was  best  acquainted, 
and  where  probably  their  sufferings  were  as  great,  per- 


280  HISTORY    OF    THE 

haps  greater,  than  in  any  other  state.  The  prejudices  of 
the  peojile  ran  high,  and  some  of  the  laws,  to  meet  the  ex- 
igencies of  the  times,  were  hard  and  oppressive;  some  of 
the  rulers  and  civil  officers  appeared  disposed  to  construe 
every  ajiparent  legal  restriction  with  rigor  against  the 
Methodists.  Some  of  the  preachers  were  mulcted  or  fined, 
and  others  were  imprisoned,  for  no  other  offense  than  travel- 
ing and  preaching  the  Gospel;  and  others  were  bound 
over  in  bonds,  and  heavy  penalties,  and  sureties,  not  to 
preach  in  this  or  that  county.  Several  were  arrested 
and  committed  to  the  common  county  jail ;  others  were 
personally  insulted  and  badly  abused  ;  some  were  beaten 
with  stripes  and  blows  nigh  unto  death,  and  carried 
their  scars  down  to  the  grave.  Our  aged  and  much 
respected  Garrettson,  now  sitting  among  us,  knows  the 
truth  of  these  statements,  for  he  was  himself  one  of  the 
sufferers.  lie  was,  for  preaching  the  Gospel,  committed 
to  prison  in  one  county ;  and  severely  beaten  and 
wounded,  even  to  the  shedding  of  blood,  nigh  unto 
death,  in  another.  In  giving  a  further  view  of  those  try- 
ing scenes  and  times  of  distress,  I  will  briefly  state  a  few 
particular  cases,  to  show  what  our  first  preachers  had  to 
endure  and  suffer  while  planting  the  Gospel  among  us. 
In  the  city  of  Annapolis,  the  capital  of  the  state,  Jona- 
than P'orrest  and  William  Wren,  and  I  believe  two  or 
three  others,  were  committed  to  jail ;  three  of  the  men 
who  were  principally  concerned  in  taking  up  and  com- 
mitting Wren  afterward  became  Methodists,  among 
whom  was  one  of  the  magistrates  who  signed  the  mit- 
timus for  his  commitment.  I  knew  them  well,  and  shall 
never  forget  the  serious  and  solemn  time  when  W^rcn 
and  myself,  with  the  man  who  arrested  him,  dined  at  the 
magistrate's  house  after  they  joined  the  Methodists.  In 
Prince  George  County  a  ])reacher  was  shamefully  mal- 


"T 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        281 

treated  by  a  mob ;  '  honored,'  according  to  the  cant  of  the 
times,  '  with  tar  and  feathers.'  Li  Queen  Anne,  Joseph 
Hartley  was  bound  over  in  penal  bonds  of  five  hundred 
I^ounds  not  to  preach  in  the  county.  In  the  same  county 
Freeborn  Garrettson  was  beaten  with  a  stick  by  one  of 
the  county  judges,  and  pursued  on  horseback  till  he  fell 
from  his  horse  and  was  nearly  killed.  In  Talbot  County, 
Joseph  Hartley  was  whipped  by  a  young  lawyer,  and 
was  imprisoned  a  considerable  time.  He  used  to  preach, 
during  his  confinement,  through  the  grates  or  window  of 
the  jail  to  large  concourses  of  people  on  Sabbath  days. 
They  frequently  came  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  to  hear 
him,  and  even  from  other  counties.  His  confinement 
produced  a  great  excitement,  and  God  overruled  it  for 
good  to  the  souls  of  many.  Christ  was  jjreached,  and 
numbers  embraced  religion.  Even  his  enemies  at  length 
were  glad  to  have  him  discharged.  In  Dorchester,  Caleb 
Pedicord  was  whipped  and  badly  hurt  upon  the  public 
road ;  he  carried  his  scars  to  the  grave.  In  the  same 
county  Garrettson  was  committed  to  jail.  In  Caroline  a 
preacher  was  taken  up  in  a  lawless  manner  and  put  into 
the  custody  of  the  sherifl*  to  be  taken  to  jail ;  but  there 
was  no  mittimus  for  his  commitment,  nor  any  legal  cause 
for  his  detention  ;  however,  the  sheriff  prudently  received 
him  into  his  care  and  protection  from  the  rage  of  his  en- 
emies, and  after  giving  him  a  hospitable  entertainment  in 
his  own  house  let  him  go.  In  the  same  county  Joseph  Fos- 
ter was  brought  before  the  court,  and  thrown  into  troub- 
les, expenses,  and  costs.  We  might,  perhaps,  with  pro- 
priety notice  some  other  cases  in  difierent  counties  and 
states,  both  North  and  South,  of  the  sufferings  both  of 
preachers  and  members ;  but  time  would  fail.  From  these 
brief  sketches  some  tolerably  correct  though  flunt  idea 
may  be  formed  of  what  our  first  preachers  had  to  endure, 


282  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  how  great  were  their  conflicts.  Tliey  spent  their  all — 
their  time,  tlieir  blood,  their  lives  —  to  win  souls  to  Christ. 
Under  all  these  eniharrassinj;  and  perplexing  circum- 
stances the  preachers,  with  Asbury  at  their  head,  went 
on,  publicly  and  privately,  in  their  indefatigable  labors. 
Tlii-y  counted  all  things  but  loss,  and  their  lives  not  dear 
to  themselves,  so  that  they  might  gain  Christ,  win  souls, 
and  finish  the  ministry  and  work  committed  unto  them. 
The  Lord  was  with  them  as  they  passed  through  the  fires 
and  the  waters  ;  he  gave  them  grace  suflicient  for  the  evil 
days.  They  saw  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  prosper  in  their 
hands  ;  many  were  awakened  and  converted.  The  wil- 
derness and  the  solitary  places  were  glad,  the  parched 
ground  became  springs  of  water,  and  the  desert  blos- 
somed as  the  rose.  I  lived  then  as  a  spectator  and  a 
witness;  I  stand  as  a  witness  yet,  and  jirobably  am  able 
to  bear  testimony." 

These  troubles  were  exasperated  by  the  publication  of 
Wesley's  "  Calm  Address "  to  the  colonies,  copies  of 
which  appeared  in  America.  Junius  satirized  him  as 
actuated  by  a  sordid  motive,  as  "  having  one  eye  upon  a 
pension,  the  other  upon  heavi-n."  Wesley's  characteris- 
tic disregard  of  money  renders  the  charge  ridiculous  to 
all  who  are  familiar  with  his  history.  He  was  now  one 
of  the  most  conspicuous  men  of  England  ;  hardly  any 
jiublic  interest  or  question  escaped  his  attention.  He 
was  in  the  habit  of  publishing  incessantly  abridged  or 
cheap  books  for  his  numerous  people;  it  is  ])r<)bable  that 
no  ecclesiastical  personage  of  the  realm  swayed  a  wider 
influence  over  the  masses  on  questions  involving,  directly 
or  indirectly,  religious  interests;  and  the  question  of  the 
loyalty  of  the  colonies  seemed  to  him  to  involve  gravely 
the  prospects  of  Christianity  in  the  new  world.  The 
government  knew  him  too  well  to  approach  him  with 


ME 


THODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        283 

overtures  of  preferment,  or  other  reward.  To  Fletcher, 
who  wrote  in  defense  of  his  "  Calm  Address,"  it  offered 
promotion ;  but  that  saintly  man  replied,  "  I  only  want 
more  of  the  grace  of  God."  Wesley's  error,  in  this  pub- 
lication, afforded  him  a  signal  advantage  at  last ;  the  op- 
portunity, in  the  same  year,  of  frankly  correcting  himself, 
and  of  acknowledging  the  right  of  the  colonies  in  their 
stern  quarrel.  His  "  Calm  Address  "  was,  in  fact,  but  a 
reproduction,  in  a  cheap  form,  of  the  pamphlet  of  his 
friend  Dr.  Johnson,  entitled  "Taxation  no  Tyranny." 
His  relations  with  the  "  great  moralist "  were  intimate. 
Johnson  revered  him,  and  delighted  in  his  company.''  It 
was  Johnson's  influence  that  led  him  into  the  error  of 
this  publication,  for  he  had  entertained  a  different  view 
of  the  question  till  he  read  Johnson's  pamphlet.^  Though 
in  his  brief  reproduction  of  the  essay  he  made  no  allusion 
to  Johnson,  the  latter  felt  himself  highly  complimented 
by  the  publication,  and  returned  the  compliment  in  one 
of  his  most  polished  paragraphs.^ 

The  day  of  Lexington  and  Concord  struck  Europe 
with  surprise,  and  gave  a  new  and  stern  argument,  on 
the  question,  to  thoughtful  Englishmen.  Wesley  saw  its 
significance  at  once.     Waiting  but  one  day,  after  the  ar- 

T  See  Hist,  of  the  Eelig.  Movement,  etc.,  ii,  pp.  129,  200.  "  He  talks 
well,"  said  Johnson  to  Boswell ;  "  I  could  converse  with  him  all  night." 

8  Wesley's  Preface  to  the  second  edition.    "Works,  vol.  vi.    Am.  Ed. 

9  "  I  have  thanks  likewise  to  return  you  for  the  addition  of  your  im- 
portant suffrage  to  my  argument  on  the  American  question.  To  have 
gamed  such  a  mind  as  yours  may  justly  confirm  me  in  my  own  opinion. 
What  effect  my  paper  has  upon  the  public  I  know  not ;  but  I  have  no 
reason  to  be  discouraged.  The  lecturer  was  surely  in  the  right  who, 
though  he  saw  his  audience  slinking  away,  refused  to  quit  the  chair 
while  Plato  stay (id.^^—Gentleman''s  Magazine,  1797,  p.  455,  and  BosioeWs 
Johnson,  anno  1776.  Wesley's  inveterate  opponent,  Toplady,  assailed 
him,  for  this  use  of  Johnson's  essay,  as  a  plagiarist,  m  a  virulent  pam- 
phlet entitled  "  An  old  Fox  Tarred  and  Feathered,"  In  his  second 
edition  Wesley  gave  Johnson  full  credit. 


284  HISTORY    OF    THE 

rival  of  the  news,  he  wrote  to  Lord  North  and  the  Earl 
of  Dartmouth,  peverally,  an  emphatic  letter.  "  I  am,"  he 
said,  "  a  Iligh-Churchman,  the  son  of  a  High-Churchman, 
bred  up  from  my  childhood  in  the  highest  notions  of 
])assive  obedience  and  non-resistance,  and  yet,  in  spite  of 
all  my  long-rooted  prejudices,  I  cannot  avoid  thinking 
these,  an  oppressed  people,  asked  for  nothing  more  than 
their  legal  rights,  and  that  in  the  most  modest  and  in- 
offensive manner  that  the  nature  of  the  thing  would 
allow.  But  wai\'ing  this,  I  ask,  Is  it  common  sense 
to  use  force  toward  the  Americans  ?  "Whatever  has  Vjeen 
affirmed,  these  men  will  not  be  frightened,  and  they  will 
not  be  conquered  easily.  Some  of  our  valiant  officers 
say  that  'two  tliousand  men  will  clear  America  of  these 
n-bels.'  No,  nor  twenty  thousand,  be  they  rebels  or  not, 
nor  jierhaps  treble  that  number.  They  are  strong;  they 
are  valiant;  they  arc  one  and  all  enthusiasts;  enthusi- 
asts for  liberty,  calm,  deliberate  enthusiasts.  In  a  short 
time  they  will  understand  discipline  as  well  as  their 
assailants.  But  you  are  informed  '  they  are  divided 
among  themselves.'  So  was  poor  Kehoboam  informed 
concerning  the  ten  tribes;  so  was  Philip  informed  con- 
cerning the  people  of  the  Netherlands.  No ;  they  are 
terribly  united  ;  they  think  they  are  contending  for  their 
wives,  children,  and  liberty.  Their  supplies  are  at  hand, 
ours  are  three  thousand  miles  off.  Are  we  able  to  con- 
quer the  Americans  suppose  they  are  left  to  themselves? 
We  are  not  sure  of  this,  nor  are  we  sure  that  all  our 
neighbors  will  stand  stock  still."'" 

"  Smith's  Hist,  of  Wes.  Meth.,  i,  p.  726.  Uiat.  of  the  Relig.  Move- 
ment, etc.,  ii,  p.  130.  Bancroft,  vil,  Mb.  I  am  happy  to  acknowledge, 
in  behalf  of  the  Methodist  community,  their  obligations  to  Mr.  Ban- 
croft, who,  when  this  important  document  was  brought  under  his  no- 
tice, had  the  candor  to  qualify  by  it  his  former  allusions  to  Wesley, 
though  in  order  to  do  so  it  was  necessary  to  cancel  one  or  more  of  his 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        285 

In  this  same  year  Wesley  wrote  important  advice  to 
his  American  preachers.  "You  were  never  in  your 
lives,"  he  said,  "  in  so  critical  a  situation  as  you  are  at 
this  time.  It  is  your  part  to  be  peacemakers :  to  be 
loving  and  tender  to  all ;  but  to  addict  yourselves  to  no 
party.  In  spite  of  all  solicitations,  of  rough  or  smooth 
words,  say  not  one  word  against  one  or  the  other  side. 
Keep  yourselves  pure ;  do  all  you  can  to  help  and  soften 
all;  but  beware  how  you  adopt  another's  jar.  See  that 
you  act  in  full  union  with  each  other :  this  is  of  the  utmost 
consequence.  Not  only  let  there  be  no  bitterness  or  an- 
ger, but  no  shyness  or  coldness  between  you.  Mark 
all  those  that  would  set  one  against  the  other.  Some 
such  will  never  be  wanting.  But  give  them  no  counte- 
nance ;  rather  ferret  them  out,  and  drag  them  into  open 
day."  " 

These  counsels  were  sent  to  them  in  time  for  their 
next  annual  assembly.  Following  them  faithfully,  they 
passed  through  the  trying  period  with  unexpected 
prosperity.  While  the  contest  arrested  the  progress  of 
all  other  religious  bodies,  the  Methodists,  with  but  occa- 
sional and  slight  declensions,  advanced  rapidly  during 
most  of  the  time  of  the  war. 

The  Revolution  prepared  them,  it  has  been  said, 
for  their  organization  as  a  distinct  denomination,  and 
opened  before  them  that  career  of  success  which  at  last 
advanced  them  to  the  van  of  the  Protestantism  of  the 
nation.     It  may  indeed  be  affirmed  that  American  Meth- 

stereotype  plates.  He  inserts  a  large  extract  from  the  letter  in  the  sixth 
edition  of  his  seventh  volume.  The  Methodist  denomination  will  con- 
gratulate itself  that  its  venerated  founder  is  thus,  almost  for  the  first  time 
in  civil  history,  fairly  represented  in  respect  to  this  question,  and  that 
this  justice  has  been  accorded  in  a  work  which,  by  its  remarkable  mer- 
its, will  be  as  immortal  as  its  theme. 
11  Bangs,  i,  115. 


286  HISTORY    OF    THE 

odism  was  burn,  and  passed  its  whole  iufancy,  in  the  invig- 
orating  struggle  of  the  Revolution.     In  the  year  (1760) 
in  which  Embuiy  and  his  fellow  Palatines  arrived,  the 
Lor<ls  of  Trade  advised  the  taxing  of  the  colonies,  and  the 
agitations  of  the  latter  commenced.    The  next  year  James 
Otis,  the  "morning  star"  of  the  Revolution,  began  his 
appeals  in  Boston  for  the  rights  of  the  peoitle.     The  fol- 
lowing year  the  whole  continent  was  shaken  by  the  royal 
interference  with  the  colonial  judiciary,  especially  at  New 
York  ;  and  Otis  attacked,  in  the  Massachusetts  legislature, 
the  English  design  of  taxation  as  planned  by  Cliarles 
Townshend.     Offense  followed  offense  from  the  British 
ministry,  and  surge  followed  surge  in  the  agitations  of 
the   colonies.     The   year   preceding  that  in  which  the 
John-street   Church  was  formed  is  memorable  as  the 
date  of  the  Stamp  Act ;  the  Church  was  founded  amid 
the  storm  of  excitement  which  compelled  the  repeal  of 
the  act  in    1760 — the    recognizx'd    epoch    of  American 
Methodism.     The  next  year  a  new  act  of  taxation  was 
passed  which  stirred  the  colonies  from  Elaine  to  Georgia, 
and  "The   Fanner's   Letters,"  by  John    Dickinson    of 
Pennsylvania,  appeared — the  foundation  rock  of  American 
politics  and  American  statesmanship.     In  two  years  more 
the  ^lassachusetts  legislature  "planned  resistance."    Sam- 
nel  Adams  approved  of  making  the  "appeal  to  heaven" — 
of  war — and  British  ships  and  troops  were  ordered  to 
Boston.      The    first    Animal    Conference    of   American 
Methodism  was  held  in  the  stormy  year  (1773)  in  which 
the   r>ritish   ministry  procured  the    act    respecting   tea, 
wliich  was    followed  by  such   resistance  that  the  ships 
bringing  that  luxury  were  not  allowed  to  land  their  car- 
goes in  Philadelphia  and  Xew  York,  were  only  allowed 
to  store  them,  not  to  sell  them,  in  South  Carolina,  and 
were  boarded  in  Boston  harbor  and  the  freight  thrown 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        287 

into  the  sea.  In  the  next  year  the  Boston  Port  Bill  in- 
flamed all  the  colonies ;  "  a  General  Congress  "  was  held  ; 
Boston  was  blockaded  ;  Massachusetts  was  in  a  "general 
rising ;"  then  came  the  year  of  Lexington,  and  Concord, 
and  Bunker  Hill,  introducing  the  "  War  of  Revolution," 
with  its  years  of  conflict  and  suffering.  Thus  Methodism 
began  its  history  in  America  in  the  storm  of  the  Rev- 
olution ;  its  English  missionaries  were  arriving  or  depart- 
ing amid  the  ever  increasing  political  agitation ;  it  was 
cradled  in  the  hurricane,  and  hardened  into  vigorous 
youth,  by  the  severities  of  the  times,  till  it  stood  forth, 
the  next  year  after  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace,  the 
organized  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America."  Its  almost  continual  growth  in 
such  apparently  adverse  circumstances  is  one  of  the 
marvels  of  religious  histoi'y.  In  1776  it  was  equal,  in 
both  the  number  of  its  preachers  and  congregations,  to  the 
Lutherans,  the  German  Reformed,  the  Reformed  Dutch, 
the  Associate  Church,  the  Moravians,  or  the  Roman 
Catholics.'"  At  the  close  of  the  war  it  ranked  fourth  or 
fifth  among  the  dozen  recognized  Christian  denominations 
of  the  country.  During  the  war  it  had  more  than  quad- 
rupled both  its  ministry  and  its  members. 

In  less  than  a  month  after  the  conflicts  of  Lexington 
and  Concord,  while  the  whole  country  resounded  with 
the  din  of  military  preparations,  the  little  company  of 
American  itinerants  wended  doubtfully  their  way  again 
to  Philadelphia,  for  their  third  annual  Conference.  In 
due  time  we  shall  meet  them  there. 

»»  Compare  Minutes  of  1776  with  Baird's  estimate,  p.  210,  note. 


288  HISTORY    OF    THE 


CHAPTER  II. 

LABORS    AND    TRIALS    DURING    THE    REVOLUTIOIT- 
ARY    WAR. 

Afibury's  Course  respecting  the  Revolution  —  He  goes  to  Norfolk  — 
Alarms  of  Wor  — Burial  of  Robert  Williams  — Mcthoilista  in  Vir- 
ginia—  Asbury  on  Bninswick  Circuit  —  Shadford  there  —  His  great 
gucoesa  —  Examples  —  Conversion  of  a  Dancing-master — Of  a  Planter 
—  The  "  GrwU  Revival "  of  Virginia  —  Jarratt's  Account  of  it  — Jarratt 
and  Asbury  —  Asbtir}-  in  Rahimorc  —  His  f^pinioti  of  Wesley's  Pam- 
phlet on  the  Colonial  Question  —  Visits  the  Hot  Sulphur  Springs  — 
On  Baltimore  Circuit— His  Character— Embarrassiiients  from  the 
War— Return  of  the  English  Proncliors  —  Asbury  in  Peril— In  Re- 
tirement —  Abduction  of  Judge  White  —  Eminent  Methodists  —  Judge 
White  —  Mary  White  —  Senator  Bassett  — Bohemia  Manor — Judge 
Barrett — "'Barrett's  ("hiiiiel" — Asbury's  Visits  to  it  in  later  Life  — 
His  Influence  on  the  Higher  Circles  of  Society  —  Abroad  again  —  Hifl 
extraordinary  Travels  —  He  meets  Coke  at  Barrett's  Chapel. 

AsuuKY  prtidonlly  iletermiued  not  to  compromise  liim- 
Sflf,  with  cither  the  liome  or  colonial  government,  in  the 
contest  now  beginning.  Ilis  work  was  one :  "  to  pro- 
mote the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  the  kingdom  of  peace, 
and  he  wished  to  pursue  his  single  ta'^k  with  such  cir- 
cumspection that,  whatever  might  be  the  issue  of  the 
struggle,  he  should  remain  unim])eachable,  and  his  ability 
to  continue  his  evangelical  labors  unimpaired.  Though 
his  sympathies  were  evidently  with  the  colonies,  yet  as 
an  Englishman,  recently  from  the  parent  country  and  ex- 
pecting sooner  or  later  to  return,  it  was  befitting  that  he 
should  give  no  occasion  of  offense  to  his  countrymen, 
especially  as  he  believed  politics  foreign  to  his  office. 
The  result  of  the  contest  was  yet  uncertain  to  himself 
at  least ;    it  was   not   exj)edient,'  therefore,  if  he  were 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        289 

even  to  be  2)rovidentially  detained  in  America  for  life,  that 
he  should  so  far  commit  himself  in  the  quarrel  as,  were 
the  colonies  to  fail,  his  ministrations  among  them  should 
be  embarrassed  after  the  restoration  of  peace.  His 
policy  was  to  follow  strictly  the  advice  of  Wesley's  last 
letter.     He  urged  it  also  upon  his  fellow-laborers. 

From  the  Conference  at  Philadelphia  in  1775  he  went 
by  sea  to  Norfolk,  Virginia,  his  new  appointment. 
"  Here,"  he  says,  "  I  found  about  thirty  persons  in  Society 
after  their  manner  ;  but  they  had  no  regular  class-meet- 
ings. However,  here  are  a  few  who  are  willing  to  ob- 
serve all  the  rules  of  our  Society.  Their  present  preach- 
ing-house is  an  old  shattered  building,  which  has  for- 
merly been  a  playhouse.  Surely  the  Lord  will  not 
always  suffer  his  honor  to  be  trampled  in  the  dust.  No ; 
I  entertain  a  hope  that  we  shall  have  a  house  and  a  peo- 
ple in  this  town.  My  heart  is  filled  with  holy  thoughts, 
and  deeply  engaged  in  the  work  of  God.  On  Tuesday 
evening  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls  attended  to 
hear  the  word,  and  about  fifty  at  five  o'clock  on  Wed- 
nesday morning,  which,  by  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  was 
found  to  be  a  good  time.  I  then  went  over  to  Portsmouth, 
and  found  my  spirit  at  liberty  in  preaching  to  a  number 
of  souls  there." 

"  My  body  is  weak,"  he  adds,  "  but  my  soul  is  in  a 
sweet  pacific  frame.  I  see  the  need  of  constant  watch- 
fulness and  entire  devotion  to  God."  Of  course  he  soon 
formed  a  large  circuit,  with  Norfolk  for  his  head-quarters, 
and  comprising  Portsmouth  and  at  least  eight  minor 
places.  A  subscription  was  started  for  a  chapel  in  Nor- 
folk. Discipline  was  enforced,  though  "  some  of  the 
members  seemed  a  little  refractory  in  submitting  "  to  it. 
"  But,"  he  characteristically  remarks,  "  without  discipline 
we  should  soon  be  a  rope  of  sand :  so  that  it  must  be 
A— 19 


290  HISTORY    OF    THE 

enforced,  let  who  will  be  displeased."  Following  the 
example  of  Wesley,  he  preached  frequently  at  five  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  though,  he  says,  "  I  have  constant  in- 
ward fever  and  drag  a  cumbersome  body  wit\i  mc." 
The  alarm  of  war  was  sounding  through  the  land,  and 
Rankin  wrote  him  that  he  and  other  English  preachers, 
after  consultation,  had  determined  to  return  to  England  ; 
"  but,"  writes  Asbury,  "  I  can  by  no  means  agree  to 
leave  such  a  field  for  gathering  souls  to  Christ  as  we  have 
in  America.  It  would  be  an  eternal  dishonor  to  the 
Methodists  that  we  should  all  leave  three  thousand  souls 
who  desire  to  commit  themselves  to  our  care ;  neither  is 
it  the  part  of  a  good  shepherd  to  leave  his  flock  in  time 
of  danger:  therefore  I  am  determined,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  not  to  leave  them,  let  the  consequence  be  what  it 
may.  Our  friends  here  appeared  to  be  distressed  above 
measure  at  the  thoughts  of  being  forsaken  by  the 
preachers.  So  I  wrote  my  sentiments  both  to  Mr.  Ran- 
kin and  Mr,  Shadford." 

Such,  in  these  troubled  times,  was  Asbury,  the  predes- 
tined apostle  of  American  Methodism.  lie  writes  on 
the  next  Sabbath,  "My  own  soul  was  enlarged  in  preach- 
ing, and  on  Monday  I  spoke  both  morning  and  evening ; 
but  we  were  interrupted  by  the  clamor  of  arms  and  prep- 
arations of  war.  My  business  is,  to  be  more  intensely 
devoted  to  God.    Then, 

"  The  rougher  the  way. 
The  shorter  our  stay  ; 
The  tempests  that  rise 
Shall  gloriously  hurry  our  souls  to  the  skies." 

He  was  now  in  the  scene  of  Robert  "Williams's  labors, 
the  founder  of  Methodism  in  Virginia.  Williams  had 
married  in  the  preceding  year,  and  settled  on  the  road 
between  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.     He  continued  to  preach 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        291 

far  and  near,  and  his  house  was  a  home  and  preaching 
place  for  Asbury.  In  the  autumn  of  1775  he  died;  As- 
bury  laid  him  to  rest,  with  a  funeral  sermon,  and  pro- 
nounced upon  him,  as  we  have  seen,  the  emphatic  eulogy 
"  that  probably  no  man  in  America  had  been  equally  suc- 
cessful in  awakening  souls."  The  loss  of  this  useful  man 
was  a  saddening  addition  to  the  calamities  of  the  times  in 
the  little  communion  of  the  Virginia  Methodists.  Asbury 
felt  it ;  yet  a  week  later  he  wrote :  "  I  was  greatly  en- 
larged in  preaching  both  at  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth, 
and  I  venture  to  hope  some  good  was  done.  But  martial 
clamors  confuse  the  land.  However,  my  soul  shall  rest 
in  God  during  this  dark  and  cloudy  day.  He  has  his 
way  in  the  whirlwind,  and  will  not  fail  to  defend  his  own 
ark." 

During  his  stay  in  this  region  he  systematized  the  cir- 
cuit work,  and  established  rigid  disciplinary  order  among 
his  Societies.  But  in  the  next  winter  Norfolk  was 
burned  down  by  the  royalists,  and  Methodism  was  extin- 
guished there  till  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 
In  1803  Asbury  found  in  the  city  a  new  chapel,  the 
best  in  the  state.  In  Portsmouth  no  Methodist  Church 
was  erected  till  1800.  Methodism  took  deep  root  in 
Virginia,  but  the  ravages  of  war  retarded  all  its  plans 
for  permanent  edifices.  Its  people  were  content  to  wor- 
ship in  barns  and  private  houses  till  the  hurricane  had 
passed.  Asbury  became  devotedly  attached  to  them, 
and  his  Journals  show  that  he  spent  more  of  his  long  life 
among  them  than  in  any  other  state  of  the  Union.  He 
was  to  preach  his  last  sennon,  and  fall  in  his  work,  in 
Virginia. 

In  November  he  left  Norfolk  for  the  Brunswick  Cir- 
cuit, still  the  scene  of  extraordinary  religious  activity. 
In  taking  his  leave  he  writes:  "I  am  now  bound  for 


292  nisTORY  OF  the 

Brunswick.  Some  that  had  been  displeased  with  my 
strictness  in  discipline  were  now  unwilling  to  let  me  go ; 
but  I  fear  they  will  not  soon  see  me  again,  if  they  should 
even  say,  '  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord.'  I  am  deficient  in  many  things,  but  my  conscience 
bears  me  witness  that  I  have  been  faithful  to  these  souls 
both  in  preaching  and  in  discijiline."  Ominous  signs  of 
the  war  were  now  breaking  out  around  him.  When  he 
arrived  at  Southampton  Court-house,  he  was  arrested 
by  a  committee  aj)pointed  to  examine  strangers ;  but, 
after  explanations,  was  allowed  to  proceed.  Some  of  his 
brethren,  who  were  on  their  way  to  Portsmouth,  were, 
however,  not  allowed  to  pass  the  guards.  "  Lord,  help 
thy  people  to  redeem  the  time,"  he  exclaims,  "for  the 
times  are  evil.  I  see  the  necessity  of  living  to  God,  and 
of  improving  our  present  privileges."  About  a  month 
later  he  writes :  "  We  have  awful  reports  of  slaughter 
at  Norfolk  and  the  Great  Bridge ;  but  I  am  at  a  happy 
distance  from  them,  and  my  soul  keeps  close  to  Christ. 
And  as  we  know  not  wliat  a  day  may  bring  forth,  I  can 
say  with  St.  Paul,  '  For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  but  to  die 
is  gain.' "  Li  a  fortnight  he  hears  of  the  burning  of 
Norfolk. 

At  the  Conference  of  1V75  Shadford  and  four  other  la- 
borers had  been  appointed  to  the  Brunswick  Circuit,  and 
were  now  sweeping,  like  flames  of  fire,  over  its  extens- 
ive field.  Shadford  had  gone  thither  in  deep  dejection, 
for  he  was  "  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,"  he  says ; 
"  but,"  he  adds,  "  I  often  felt  much  of  this  before  a  re- 
markable manifestation  of  the  power  and  presence  of 
God.  In  preaching  and  prayer  the  Lord  strips  and 
empties  before  he  fills.  I  saw  myself  so  vile  and  worth- 
less as  I  cannot  express,  and  wondered  that  God  should 
employ  me  in  his  work,     I  was  amazed  when  I  first  be- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         293 

gan  to  preach  in  Virginia ;  for  I  seldom  preached  a  ser- 
mon but  some  were  convinced  and  converted,  often  three 
or  four  at  a  time.  I  could  scarcely  believe  them  when 
they  told  me."  Among  them  were  some  of  the  "  char- 
acters "  of  the  times,  the  leaders  of  its  rustic  dissipations, 
whose  reformation  became  an  influential  example.  "  One 
of  these  was  a  dancing-master,  who  came  first  to  hear  on 
a  week-day,  dressed  in  scarlet,  and  came  several  miles 
again  on  Sunday  dressed  in  green.  After  preaching  he 
spoke  to  me,  and  asked  if  I  could  come  to  the  part 
where  he  lived  some  day  in  the  week.  I  told  Jiim  I 
could  not,  as  I  was  engaged  every  day.  I  saw  him  at 
preaching  again  that  week,  and  another  man  of  his  pro- 
fession. When  I  was  going  to  preach  one  morning  a 
friend  said  to  me,  'You  spoiled  a  fine  dancing-master  last 
week.  He  was  so  cut  under  preaching,  and  feels  such  a 
load  of  sin  upon  his  conscience,  that  he  moves  very  heav- 
ily; nay,  he  cannot  shake  his  heels  at  all.  He  had  a 
large,  profitable  school,  but  hath  given  it  up  and  intends 
to  dance  no  more.  He  intends  now  to  teach  reading, 
writing,  and  arithmetic'  I  said,  '  It  is  very  well ;  what 
is  his  name  ?'  '  He  is  called  Madcap.'  '  A  very  proper 
name  for  a  dancing-master,'  I  said  ;  but  I  found  that  this 
was  only  a  nickname,  his  real  name  being  Metcalf." 
This  example,  if  apparently  of  doubtful  importance,  was 
not  so  to  the  itinerant ;  the  eccentric  convert  became 
one  of  the  most  encouraging  proofs  of  his  ministry.  "  He 
began  to  teach  a  school,  joined  our  Society,  found  the 
pardoning  love  of  God  shed  abi'oad  in  his  heart,  by  the 
Holy  Ghost  given  unto  him ;  lived  six  or  seven  years, 
and  died  a  great  witness  for  God,  having  been  one  of  the 
most  devoted  men  in  our  connection." 

Not  a  few  of  the  wealthy  planters  of  the  colony  were 
in  a  moral  condition  hardly  above  heathenism ;  for  their" 


I 


294  HISTORY    OF    THE 

religious  instruction,  by  the  established  clergy,  had  been 
incredibly  desultory  and  defective.  Methodism  took 
strong  hold  of  many  of  them,  and,  consecrating  their 
local  influence,  rendered  them  greatly  useful  among  their 
neighbors.  "  Going  to  preach  one  day,"  says  Shadford, 
"  I  was  6tt>j>j»etl  by  a  flood  of  water  and  could  not  reach 
the  bridge.  I  therefore  turned  back  to  a  large  planta- 
tion, and  having  found  the  planter,  I  told  him  my  case 
and  asked  him  if  I  could  sleep  at  his  house.  lie  said  I 
was  welcome.  After  I  had  taken  a  little  refreshment  I 
asked  if  that  part  of  the  country  was  well  inhabited,  and 
on  his  answering  in  the  affirmative,  I  said,  '  If  it  is  agree- 
able, and  you  will  send  out  to  acquaint  your  neighbors, 
I  will  preach  to  them  this  evening.'  He  sent  out,  and  we 
had  many  hearers,  but  they  were  as  wild  boars.  After  I 
had  reproved  them  they  behaved  very  well  during  the 
preaching.  When  I  conversed  with  the  planter  and  his 
wife,  I  found  them  entirely  ignorant  of  themselves  and 
of  God.  I  labored  to  convince  them  both,  but  it  seemed 
to  little  purpose.  Next  morning  I  was  stopped  again, 
when  he  kindly  oflx*red  to  show  me  another  way  some 
miles  about,  and  go  with  me  to  preaching.  I  thanked 
him  and  accepted  his  offer.  As  I  was  preaching  that  day 
I  saw  him  weeping  much.  The  Spirit  of  God  opened  the 
poor  creature's  eyes,  and  he  saw  the  wretched  state  he 
was  in.  He  stayed  with  me  that  night,  and  made  me 
promise  to  go  again  to  his  house  and  preach  there.  In  a 
short  time  he  and  his  wife  became  true  penitents,  and 
were  soundly  converted  by  the  power  of  God."  This 
case  is  not  recorded  by  hira  for  its  individual  importance 
alone,  but  because  it  became  the  foundation  of  a  local 
"appointment"  and  a  Church.  "A  very  remarkable 
■work,"  he  adds,  "began  from  this  little  circumstance; 
and  before  I  left  Virginia  there  were  sixty  or  seventy 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        295 

raised  up  in  Society  in  that  settlement.  There  were  four 
traveling  preachers  that  year  in  the  circuit.  We  added 
eighteen  hundred  members,  and  had  good  reason  to 
believe   that   a  thousand   of  them  were  converted    to 

God." 

Young  Jesse  Lee  witnessed  this  "  remarkable  "  inter- 
est, as  his  home  was  one  of  the  preaching  stations  of 
the   circuit.     He   writes   that,  "In   the  course  of  this 
year  there  was  a  gracious  work  in  several  places,  but 
in  none  did  it  equal  that  on  Brunswick  Circuit,  where 
George  Shadford  was  traveling  at  that  time.     It  was 
quite  common  for  sinners  to  be  seized  with  trembling 
and  shaking,  and  to  fall  down  as  if  they  were  dead ;  and 
many  were  convulsed  from  head  to  foot,  while  others  re- 
tained the  use  of  their  tongues,  so  as  to  pray  while  lying 
helpless  on  the  floor.     Christians,  too,  were  sometimes 
60  overcome  with  the  presence  and  love  of  God  as  not 
to  be  able  to   stand  on  their  feet.      Mr.  Jarratt,  the 
Church  clergyman,  was  very  useful  in  this  revival,  and 
his  heart  was   closely  united   to  the  Methodists.     He 
would  frequently  preach,  meet  the  classes,  hold  love- 
feasts,  and  administer  the  sacraments  among  them.     He 
was  an  eye-witness  of  this  work;    and  as  it  was  the 
greatest  revival  of  religion  that  had  ever  been  known  in 
that  part  of  the  country,  I  think  it  will  be  a  satisfaction  to 
many  to  give  a  further  account  of  it."     He  proceeds  to 
say  that  the  excitement  extended  into  the  southern  parts 
of  Virginia,  and  was  the  "  most  remarkable  reformation 
ever  known,  perhaps,  in  country  places,  in  so  short  a 
time."     It  continued  into  the  ensuing  year.     Shadford 
still  pleached  in  Virginia,  and  his  ministry  was  attended 
with  extraordinary  'icenes.     "  On  the  second  day  of  a 
Quarterly  Meeting,"  continues  the  historian,  "a  Love- 
Feast  was  held.     As  soon  as  it  began,  the  power  of  the 


296  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Lord  came  dowp  on  the  assembly  like  a  rushing,  mighty 
wind ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  the  wliole  house  was  filled 
"with  the  presence  of  God.  A  flame  kindled  and  ran 
from  heart  to  heart.  ^lany  were  deeply  convinced  of 
sin ;  many  mourners  were  filled  with  consolation  ;  and 
many  believers  were  so  overwhelmed  with  love  that 
they  could  not  doubt  but  God  had  enabled  them  to  love 
him  with  all  their  hearts.  "When  the  Love-Feast  was 
ended  the  doors  were  opened.  M.any  who  had  stayed 
without  then  came  in,  and  beholding  the  anguish  of 
some  and  the  rejoicing  of  others,  were  filled  with  aston 
ishraent,  and  not  long  after  with  trembling  apprehen- 
sions of  their  own  danger.  Several  of  them,  prostrating 
themselves  before  God,  crie<l  aloud  for  mercy.  And  the 
convictions  which  then  began  in  many  have  terminated 
in  a  hapi)y  and  lasting  change.  The  multitudes  that  at- 
tended on  this  occasion,  returning  home  all  alive  to  God, 
spread  the  flame  through  their  respective  neighborlioods, 
so  that  within  four  weeks  several  hundreds  found  the 
peace  of  God.  Scarce  any  conversation  was  to  be  heard, 
throughout  the  circuit,  but  concerning  the  things  of 
God.  In  many  large  companies  one  careless  person 
could  not  be  seen ;  and  the  far  greater  part  seemed  per- 
fectly happy  in  a  clear  sense  of  the  love  of  God.  This 
work  in  a  very  short  time  spread  through  Dinwiddie, 
Ameli.a,  Brunswick,  Sussex,  Prince  George,  Lunenberg, 
and  Mecklenberg  Counties.  It  thus  increased  on  every 
side ;  more  preachers  were  soon  wanted  ;  and  the  Lord 
raised  up  several  young  men,  who  were  exceedingly  use- 
ful as  local  preachers."  Lee  himself  was  one  of  the  most 
conspicuous  of  these  local  evangelists.  lie  continues : 
"  In  the  course  of  the  summer  Thomas  Rankin  came  to 
Virginia,  and  on  the  last  day  of  June  he  preached,  foi 
the  first  time,  at  Boisseau's   (Bushill's)  Chapel,  where 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         297 

Mr.  Shadfoi-cl  met  him,  and  tliey  had  preaching  in  the 
forenoon  and  afternoon ;  but  before  the  last  sermon  was 
ended,  such  a  power  descended  that  many  fell  to  the 
floor  and  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  presence  of  God. 
The  chapel  was  full  of  people,  and  many  were  without 
that  could  not  get  in.  Look  which  way  one  would,  he 
might  behold  streaming  eyes,  and  but  little  could  be 
heard  except  strong  cries  to  God  for  mercy.  It  might 
be  truly  said,  '  this  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God ! 
This  is  the  gate  of  heaven !'  Husbands  and  wives  w^ere 
inviting  each  other  to  go  with  them  to  heaven ;  parents 
and  children  entreating  each  other.  In  short,  those  who 
were  happy  in  God  themselves  were  for  bringing  all 
their  friends  to  him  in  their  arms.  This  mighty  effusion 
of  the  Spirit  continued  for  more  than  an  hour,  in  which 
time  many  were  awakened,  some  found  peace  wnth  God, 
and  others  experienced  perfect  love.  The  preachers  at- 
tempted to  speak  or  sing  again  and  again,  but  their 
voices  were  soon  drowned.  Mr.  Rankin  commanded 
the  people  to  be  silent,  but  all  in  vain ;  and  it  w^as  with 
difficulty  that  they  could  be  persuaded,  as  night  drew 
on,  to  retire  to  their  own  houses.  Such  a  work  of  God 
as  that  was  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  before.  It  con- 
tinued to  spread  through  the  southern  parts  of  Virginia 
and  the  adjacent  parts  of  North  Carohna  all  that  summer 
and  autumn.  When  the  returns  of  members  were  made 
to  the  Conference  this  year  there  had  been  added  to  the 
Societies,  on  Brunswick  Circuit,  eight  hundred  and  eleven 
members.  But  if  we  include  Hanover  Circuit  and  Caro- 
line, which  had  been  united  to  Brunswick,  there  had 
been  added,  in  one  year,  eighteen  hundred  members.  I 
"  have  spoken  largely  of  this  revival  of  religion,  but  my 
pen  cannot  describe  one  half  of  what  I  saw,  heard,  and 
felt.     I  might  write  a  volume  on  this  subject,  and  then 


298  HISTORY    OF    THE 

leave  the  greater  part  untold.'"  Such  was  the  success 
with  which  the  militant  Preachers  of  Methodism  pushed 
forward  their  conquests  amid  the  tumults  of  the  Rcao- 
lutionary  War.  This  "Great  Revival"  was  as  remark- 
able, in  some  respects  more  remarkable,  than  tlie  "  Great 
Awakenin<;,"  under  Edwards,  in  New  England.  It  was 
more  durable.  I  have  had  occa.sion  to  cite  frequently  the 
report  which  Jarratt  made  of  it  to  Rankin  for  "Wesley. 
He  says,  "One  of  the  doctrines,  as  you  know,  which  we 
particularly  insist  upon,  is  that  of  a  present  salvation  ;  a 
salvation  not  only  from  the  guilt  and  power,  but  also 
from  the  root  of  sin ;  a  cleansing  from  all  filthiness  of 
flesh  and  spirit,  that  we  may  jterfect  holiness  in  the  fear 
of  God ;  a  going  on  to  perfection,  which  we  sometimes 
define  by  loving  God  with  all  our  hearts.  Several  who 
had  believed  were  deeply  sensible  of  their  want  of  this. 
And  I  have  been  present  when  they  believed  that  God 
answered  this  prayer,  and  bestowed  this  blessing  upon 
tlieni.  We  have  sundry  witnesses  of  this  ])erfect  love 
who  are  above  all  suspicion.  I  have  known  the  men  and 
their  communication  for  many  years,  and  have  ever  found 
them  zealous  for  the  cause  of  God,  men  of  sense  and  in- 
tegrity, patterns  of  piety  and  humility.  It  has  been  fre- 
quently observed  that  there  never  was  any  remarkable 
revival  of  religion  but  some  degree  of  enthtisiasm  was 
mingled  with  it,  some  wildfire  mixed  with  the  sacred 
flame.  It  may  be  doubted  whether  this  is  not  unavoid- 
able in  the  nature  of  things.  This  work  has  not  been 
quite  free  from  it ;  but  it  never  rose  to  any  considerable 
height,  neither  was  of  long  continuance.  Some  of  our 
asseml)lies  resembled  the  congregation  of  the  Jews  at 
laying  the  foundation  of  the  second  temple  in  the  days 

•  Lee's  History,  etc.,  pp.  53-59.    He  borrows  largely  from  Jarratt'b 
•'  Narrative." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH,         299 

of  Ezra ;  some  wept  for  grief,  others  shouted  for  joy. 
Upon  the  whole,  this  has  been  a  great,  a  deep,  a  swift, 
and  an  extensively  glorious  work.  Both  the  nature  and 
manner  of  it  have  been  nearly  the  same,  wherever  its  be- 
nign influence  reached," 

Writing  in  September,  1776,  Jarratt  says :  "If  you  ask, 
'  How  stands  the  case  now  with  those  that  have  been  the 
subjects  of  the  late  work?'  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform 
you  I  have  not  heard  of  any  one  apostate  yet.  Upon  the 
whole,  things  are  in  as  flourishing  a  condition  as  can 
reasonably  be  expected,  considering  what  great  numbers, 
of  various  capacities  and  stations,  have  lately  been  added 
to  the  Societies,'" 

As  Asbury  approached  the  Brunswick  Circuit  he  wrote, 
"  God  is  at  work  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  my  soul 
catches  the  holy  fire  already."  On  Sunday,  5th  of  No- 
vember, he  met  Shadford  at  a  rural  chapel.  "My  spirit," 
he  wrote,  "  was  much  united  to  him,  and  our  meeting 
was  like  that  of  Jonathan  and  David.  We  had  a  large 
congregation,  and  I  was  much  comforted  among  them. 
Monday,  6,  I  moved  on  toward  our  Quarterly  Meeting ; 
but  in  fording  Meherring  River  the  water  was  so  deep 
as  almost  to  flood  my  horse  and  carriage.  On  Tuesday 
our  Quarterly  Meeting  began,  at  which  there  might  be 
seven  hundred  people.  What  great  things  hath  the  Lord 
wrought  for  the  inhabitants  of  Virginia !  Great  num- 
bers of  them  manifest  a  desire  to  seek  salvation  for  their 
souls."  At  this  meeting  Francis  Poythress,  James  Fos- 
ter, and  Joseph  Hartley  were  received  as  traveling 
preachers.  We  shall  hear  of  them  again.  "I  had  great 
satisfaction,"  continues  Asbury,  "  in  preaching  both  Tues- 
day and  Wednesday,  and  was  much  pleased  with  the 
manner  and  matter  of  the  Christians'  testimony  in  the 
*  Jarratt's  "Narrative,"  in  Asbury's  Journals,  i,  p.  208. 


300  HISTORY    OF    THE 

love-feast,  having  a  correspondent  witness  of  the  same 
in  my  own  breast.  Friday,  10, 1  prcachcfl  at  B.  J.'s,  and 
the  power  of  the  Lord  was  present,  melting  the  hearts 
of  the  audience;  and  in  class-meeting  both  believers  and 
penitents  were  all  in  tears.  I  have  now  a  blooming  pros- 
pect of  usefulness,  and  hope  both  to  do  good  and  get 
good.  My  heart  goes  out  in  grateful  thanksgiving  and 
jiraises  to  God." 

Early  in  January  he  meets  .Tarratt,  who  reports  still  a 
"great  work"  under  Shadford's  preaching.  The  good 
rector  unites  with  the  itinerant  in  holding  a  "Watch 
Night,  at  which  they  "stand  about  two  hours  e.ach," 
preaching  to  an  eager  throng,  among  whom,  says  Asbury, 
"there  appeared  a  great  degree  of  divine  power."  Jar- 
ratt  is  with  him  also  at  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  the 
circuit,  where  the  Rector  preaches  and  administers  the 
Lord's  supper.  Asbury,  soon  after,  visits  his  parsonage 
and  finds  in  him  "  an  agreeable  sjiirit." 

The  IJcctor  had  now  formed  very  intimate  relations 
with  the  Methodists,  and  promised  Asbury  to  share  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  next  Annual  Conference,  should  it 
be  convenient  for  him  to  attend  it.  After  spending  about 
a  month  in  itinerating  with  him,  Asbury  set  out  for  the 
North,  called  thither  by  Rankin.  On  arriving  in  Balti- 
more the  alarms  of  war  met  him  again  ;  he  found  the 
city  in  commotion,  caused  by  a  report  that  a  ship-of-war 
was  approaching.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  were  hurry- 
ing out  of  town.  "The  congregations,"  he  wrote,  "were 
but  small,  so  great  has  the  consternation  been.  But  I 
know  the  Lord  govemeth  the  world ;  therefore  these 
things  shnll  not  trouble  me.  I  will  endeavor  to  be  ready 
for  life  or  death."  lie  was  welcomed  to  the  tranquil  re- 
treat of  Perry  Hall  by  his  friend  Gough,  and  preached 
there  to  a  great  congregation.     On  the  19th  of  March, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        801 

1'776,  he  reached  Philadelphia,  having  "  rode  about  three 
thousand  miles"  since  he  left  it,  on  the  22d  of  the  pre- 
ceding May.  Here,  on  receiving  a  letter  from  Wesley, 
he  records  his  sentiments  respecting  the  Revolution,  cau- 
tiously, but  with  sufficient  distinctness  to  show  that  he 
did  not  share  the  opinions  of  his  English  coadjutors.  Of 
"Wesley  he  says,  "  I  am  truly  sorry  that  the  venerable 
man  ever  dipped  into  the  j^olitics  of  America.  My  desire 
is  to  live  in  love  and  peace  with  all  men ;  to  do  them  no 
harm,  but  all  the  good  I  can.  However,  it  discovers  Mr. 
Wesley's  conscientious  attachment  to  the  government 
under  which  he  lives.  Had  he  been  a  subject  of  Amer- 
ica, no  doubt  he  would  have  been  as  zealous  an  advocate 
of  the  American  cause.  But  some  inconsiderate  persona 
have  taken  occasion  to  censure  the  Methodists  in  America 
on  account  of  his  political  sentiments."  Soon  afterward  he 
received  word  from  New  York  that  "  troops  were  being 
raised  and  intrenchments  made  in  that  city."  "  O  Lord," 
he  writes,  "  we  are  oppressed,  undertake  thou  for  us." 
He  doubtless  inclined  to  the  side  of  the  colonists ;  his 
sagacious  mind  foresaw  the  grand  advantages  of  the  na- 
tional organization  of  the  Anglo-Saxons  in  the  opening 
new  world,  and  the  vision  of  the  prospective  triumphs 
of  the  Gospel,  in  his  own  denomination,  probably  rose 
luminously  before  him  amid  the  clouds  of  the  war-storm, 
though  he  knew  that  the  restoration  of  peace  would  be 
followed  by  general  prosperity  and  riches,  which  might 
divert  many  of  his  fellow-laborers  from  the  hardships  of 
the  itinerancy.  His  own  policy  was  cautiously  defined ; 
it  was  to  prosecute  his  evangelical  work  without  inter- 
meddling with  the  conflicting  parties.  His  work  was 
sublimely  apart  from  and  above  them  all.  A  few  days 
after  his  comments  on  Wesley's  error  he  wrote,  "  How 
changeable  are  all  things  here,  and  especially  in  these 


302  HISTORY    OF    THE 

precarious  times !  but  my  determination  is  to  cast  all  mj 
care  on  the  Lord,  and  bear  with  patience  whatsoever 
may  occur.  May  the  Lord  make  me  more  indifferent 
both  toward  persons  and  things,  and  only  intent  on  do 
ing  his  will!"  And,  again,  he  says,  his  "  soul  enjoys  a 
delightful  sense  of  the  divine  favor,  and  is  fixed  on  God 
as  its  center,  though  in  the  midst  of  tumults."  "  Glory 
to  God,  I  can  leave  all  the  little  affairs  of  this  confused 
world  to  those  men  to  whose  province  they  pertain,  and 
can  comfortably  go  on  in  my  proper  business  of  instru- 
mentally  saving  my  own  soul  and  those  that  hear  me." 

After  spending  some  months  in  Philadeljliia,  rallying 
the  Society  from  the  public  distractions,  and  making  ex- 
cursions into  New  Jersey  and  other  parts  of  the  country, 
where  he  found  the  young  Churches  desolated  by  the 
agitations  of  the  war,  he  i)assed  soutliward  again  on  the 
last  day  of  May,  177G.  lie  is  welcomcil  in  Baltimore, 
and  finds  temporary  shelter  at  Perry  Hall ;  is  refreshed 
by  good  news  "  of  the  glorious  spread  of  the  work  of 
(loil  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  where  the  Lord  is 
still  fulfilling  his  promise,  and  pouring  out  his  Spirit  on 
the  people."  lie  preaches  for  Otterbein,  and  remarks 
that  "  there  are  very  few  with  whom  he  can  find  so  much 
unity  and  freedom  in  conversation  as  with  him."  In  one 
of  his  e-vcursions  he  is  arrested,  taken  before  a  magistrate, 
and  "  fined  five  pounds  for  preaching  the  Gospel."  His 
health  again  fails,  through  excessive  travel  and  preach- 
ing. He  goes  to  the  Warm  Sulphur  Springs  of  Virginia, 
accom])anied  by  Gough,  of  Perry  Hall ;  there  he  hf>l<ls 
a  meeting  every  night  and  preaches  often  in  the  open  air. 
"  My  confidence,"  he  writes,  "  is  strong  in  the  Lord,  and 
accompanied  with  sweet  consolation.  My  company  and 
myself  are  quickened  in  our  own  souls,  and  the  hearts  of 
several  others  are  under  gome  religious  impressions.    But 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.        303 

the  zealous  conversation  and  prayers  of  Mr.  Gough  seem 
to  move  and  melt  the  hearts  of  the  people  more  than  my 
preaching  does.  Lord,  send  by  whom  thou  wilt :  only 
send  to  the  conviction  and  salvation  of  immortal  souls. 
At  this  time  Christ  is  all  in  all  to  me.  My  heart  is 
sweetly  occupied  by  his  gracious  Spirit." 

His  plan  of  relaxation  and  recuperation  here  is  singu- 
lar enough.  He  reads  about  a  hundred  pages  a  day; 
usually  prays  in  public  five  times  a  day;  preaches  in  the 
open  air  every  other  day ;  and  lectures  in  prayer-meeting 
every  evening.  "  And,"  he  adds,  "  if  it  were  in  my  power 
1  would  do  a  thousand  times  as  much  for  such  a  gracious 
and  blessed  Master.  But,  in  the  midst  of  all  my  little 
employments,  I  feel  myself  as  nothing,  and  Christ  to  me 
is  all  in  all." 

The  accommodations  at  this  celebrated  resort  were 
still  of  the  most  primitive  kind.  Asbury's  "boarding 
house  "  was  twenty  feet  by  sixteen  in  size,  "  with  seven 
beds  and  sixteen  persons  therein,  and  some  noisy  chil- 
dren." "  So,"  he  says,  "  I  dwell  among  briars  and 
thorns ;  but  my  soul  is  in  peace."  Doing  here  the  work 
of  half  a  score  of  ordinary  pastors,  yet  surrounded  with 
the  grand  and  tranquil  solitudes  of  nature,  he  richly  en- 
joyed his  retreat.  But  the  din  of  war  still  reached  him. 
"  I  spent,"  he  writes,  "  some  time  in  the  woods  alone 
with  God,  and  found  it  a  peculiar  time  of  love  and  joy. 
O  delighful  employment !  All  my  soul  was  centered  in 
God !  The  next  day  while  preaching  at  three  o'clock,  to 
an  increased  company,  the  word  produced  great  serious- 
ness and  attention.  And  we  had  a  happy,  powerful 
meeting  in  the  evening  at  Mr.  Gough's.  But  my  mind 
is  in  some  degree  disturbed  by  the  reports  of  bat- 
tles and  slaughters.  It  seems  the  Cherokee  Indians  have 
also  begun  to  break  out,  and  the  English  ships   have 


304  HISTORY    OF    THE 

been  coasting  to  and  fro,  watching  for  advantages ;  but 
what  can  they  expect  to  accomplish  without  an  army  of 
two  or  three  hundred  thousand  men  ?  And  even  then, 
there  would  be  but  little  prospect  of  their  success.  O 
that  this  dispensation  might  answer  its  proper  end  !  That 
the  people  would  fear  the  Lord,  and  sincerely  devote 
themselves  to  his  service!  Then,  no  doubt,  wars  and 
bloodshed  would  cease." 

Having  spent  six  weeks  at  the  Springs,  he  left  them 
for  his  Baltimore  Circuit,  where  he  resumed  his  travels 
with  unresting  energy.  Ilis  journals  are  characteristic- 
ally laconic  ;  they  abound  in  abbreviations  which  obscure, 
at  this  late  day,  their  allusions;  we  are  perplexed  in 
tracing  his  journeyings,  as  he  hurries  us  along  from  place 
to  pl.ice ;  but  we  are  kept  in  excited  interest  and  won- 
der at  his  hardly  intermitted  movements,  his  continual 
)>reaching,  in  the  morning  at  a  chapel,  in  the  afternoon  at 
a  b.irn  or  school-house  ten  or  fifteen  miles  distant,  in  the 
evening  at  a  private  house  twenty  miles  further.  The 
next  day  he  is  early  in  the  saddle  and  again  away  to 
other  fields  ;  and  so,  day  after  d.ay,  week  after  week, 
year  after  year,  for  nearly  half  a  century  ;  for  with  him 
ministerial  zeal  was  not  a  paroxysm,  but  a  divine  fire 
which  kept  his  whole  life  incandescent  until  he  dropped 
at  last  in  the  pulpit,  consumed  by  it,  or  rather  borne  by 
it  away,  .as  if  ascending,  like  the  Hebrew  prophet,  in  a 
chariot  of  fire.  Neither  Wesley  nor  "Whitefield  labored 
as  energetically  as  this  obscure  man.  He  exceeded 
them  in  the  extent  of  his  annual  travels,  the  frequency 
of  his  sermons,  and  the  hardships  of  his  daily  life.  His 
temperament  was  less  buoyant  than  theirs,  he  was  often 
depressed  by  a  constitutional  sadness,  if  not  melan- 
choly ;  but  he  had  an  iron  will,  a  profound  conscience,  an 
ineffable  sense  of  the  value  of  the  human  soul,  and  aa 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         305 

invincible  resolution  to  attain  the  maximum  availability 
of  his  life  for  the  eternal  welfare  of  himself  and  his  fellow- 
men.  He  studied  hard  on  his  long  routes,  and,  by  his 
unaided  endeavors,  became  able  to  read  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures in  the  original  Hebrew  and  Greek,  and  was  familiar 
with  ecclesiastical  and  general  history  and  scientific  the- 
ology. In  practical  prudence,  the  wisdom  which  is 
profitable  to  direct  in  the  government  of  large  bodies  of 
men,  he  perfected  himself  beyond  almost  any  modem 
example,  as  the  great  results  of  his  administration  prove. 
But  as  yet  he  had  no  distinct  perception  of  the  adminis- 
trative responsibility  which  was  pending  over  him.  The 
duty  of  the  hour  was  all  he  knew  of,  if  not  all  he  cared 
for,  assured  that  if  that  were  well  done  the  future  would 
unfold  itself  aright. 

He  visited  Annapolis  often  about  this  time,  preaching 
in  an  old  theater.  One  of  the  earliest  Methodists  there 
was  a  Mr.  Wilkins,  who  became  his  steadfast  friend,  and 
whose  family  afterward  was  among  the  most  influential 
in  the  denomination  in  Baltimore.  The  Guest  family  was 
also  important  in  the  early  history  of  Methodism  in  An- 
napolis, and  their  name  has  been  honorably  represented  in 
the  itinerant  ministry.  The  war  spirit  menaced  Asbury 
in  this  region,  and  his  friends  could  not  protect  him.  His 
chaise  was  shot  through  but  he  escaped  unharmed.  It 
became  necessary,  however,  for  him  to  think  of  means  of 
safety.  A  pause  is  reported  in  his  career  of  two  or 
more  years,  during  which  he  is  usually  represented  as  se- 
questered from  the  storms  of  the  Revolution  ;  but  though 
it  seemed  to  him  such,  it  was  but  a  partial  retirement, 
for  he  still  had  a  whole  state  for  his  parish  most  of  the 
time.  While  pursuing  his  zealous  course  on  the  Balti- 
more Circuit,  he  received  word  of  the  return  of  Rankin 
to  England ;  Shadford,  to  whom  he  clung  as  David  to 
A— 20 


306  niSTORY    OF    TUE 

Jonathan,  was  persuaded  to  tarry,  but  he  also  soon  de- 
parted ;  at  last  all  "Wesley's  English  missionaries  but 
himself  had  left  the  country  or  the  denomination.  He 
bowed  his  head  in  profound  dejection,  but  his  will  could 
not  be  bowed.  He  was  offered  a  quiet  settlement  over 
an  Episcopal  Church,  but  he  replied,  "I  will  do  nothing 
that  shall  separate  me  from  my  brethren.  I  hope  to  live 
and  die  a  Methodist."  "  We  have  great  commotion  on 
every  side,  but  in  the  midst  of  war  the  Lord  keeps  my 
soul  in  perfect  peace."  Shadford,  still  lingering,  meets 
him,  and  informs  him  of  the  departure  of  Rankin  and 
Rodda.  "So,"  he  writes  in  sadness,  "  we  are  left  alone; 
but  I  leave  myself  in  the  hands  of  God."  He  goes  for- 
Avard  on  his  circuit,  dragging  Shadford  with  him  far  on 
his  route ;  though  a  heavy  gloominess  hangs  on  his  mind 
he  insj)irits  his  timid  brethren,  proclaiming  as  his  text, 
"Tlierefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye  steadfast,  un- 
movable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord." 
Shadford  "  exhorts  "  after  him,  and  "  the  hearts  of  the 
people  melt  under  the  power  of  the  word."  Wherever 
they  go  record  is  now  made  of  "  the  merciful  hand  of  God 
displayed  "  in  the  assemblies,  of  "  a  moving  in  the  con- 
gregations," of  "  powerful  seasons,"  of  "  extraordinary 
visitations  of  grace."  "  We  have  been  greatly  blessed," 
he  adds,  "  anil  have  seen  great  displays  of  divine  grace 
since  we  have  been  together,  and  have  been  made  a 
blessing  to  one  another." 

At  last  Shadford  gives  up  and  retreats.  "  George 
Shadford  left  me,"  writes  the  solitary  missionary  ;  "  I  am 
easy,  however,  for  the  Lord  is  with  me.  If  he  will  be 
with  me,  and  bring  me  to  my  Father's  house  in  peace,  he 
shall  be  my  God  forever.  Yea ;  let  him  do  with  me  as 
seemeth  ijood  in  his  sight — only  let  him  not  take  his 
Holy  Spirit  from  me — and  he  shall  be  mine,  and  I  will 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        807 

be  his,  in  time  and  through  eternity."  Soon  afterward 
he  again  writes,  "  I  am  under  some  heaviness  of  mind. 
But  it  is  no  wonder  :  three  thousand  miles  from  home — 
my  friends  have  left  me — I  am  considered  by  some  as  an 
enemy  of  the  country — every  day  liable  to  be  seized  by 
violence  and  abused.  All  this  is  but  a  trifle  to  suffer 
for  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  Lord,  stand  by 
me !"  He  still  pursues  his  work,  though  daily  expecting 
to  be  arrested,  for  he  hears  from  various  directions  of  the 
mobbing  and  imprisonment  of  his  itinerant  brethren; 
though  none  but  native  preachers  now  remain  with  him. 
As  Methodists  they  are  held  responsible  for  Wesley's 
opposition  to  the  Revolution,  the  modification  of  his 
opinion  being  yet  unknown  in  the  colonies ;  and  the 
mob  and  petty  magistrates,  swayed  by  political  excite- 
ment and  many  of  them  by  sectarian  jealousy,  listen  to 
no  remonstrances  or  entreaties.  The  test-oaths  require 
a  pledge  to  take  up  arms,  if  called  upon  to  do  so  by  the 
authorities.  Asbury,  though  well  affected  toward  the 
colonial  cause,  cannot  consent  to  such  a  contingency. 
His  conscience  as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  forbids  him. 
The  peril  at  last  comes  nearer  home  to  him.  In  March, 
1*778,  he  writes,  in  concealment,  at  the  house  of  his 
friend.  Judge  White,  of  Kent  County,  Del.,  "  I  intend  to 
abide  here  for  a  season  till  the  storm  is  abated.  The 
grace  of  God  is  a  sufficient  support  while  I  bear  the  re- 
proach of  men,  and  am  rewarded  evil  for  all  the  good 
which  I  have  done,  and  desire  to  do  for  mankind.  I 
am  strongly  persuaded  that  divine  Providence  will  bring 
about  a  change  before  long." 

On  the  2d  of  April  the  light  borse  patrol  came  to  the 
house,  and  seizing  Judge  White,  bore  him  off,  leaving 
his  wife  and  children  with  Asbury  in  great  alai'm.  They 
observed  together  the  next  day  as  an  occasion  of  fasting 


308  HISTOKY    OF    THE 

and  prayer.     On  Saturday,  April  4,  .Vsbury  says  :  "  This 
was  a  day  of  much  divine  power  and  love  to  my  soul.     I 
was  left  alone,  and  spent  part  of  every  hour  in  prayer ; 
and  Christ  was  near  and  very  precious."     "  On  Monday, 
6th,  I  found  freedom  to  move.    I  rode  on  through  a  lone- 
some, devious  road,  like  Abraham,  not  knowing  whither 
I  went ;  but  weary  and  unvvt-ll,  I  found  a  shelter  late  at 
night,  and  there  I  intended  to  rest  till  Providence  should 
direct  my  way.     This  was  something  like  the  faithful 
saints  of  old  times,  mentioned  Ileb.  xi :  'They  wandered 
about,  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented  ;  they  wan- 
dered in  deserts  and  in  mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves 
of  the   earth  ;'    thuugh  it  must  be  acknowledged  their 
trials  far  exceeded.     Tuesday,  7.  My  soul  was  kept  in 
peace,  and  I  spent  much  of  my  time  in  reading  the  Bible 
and   the  Greek  Testament.     Surely  God  will  stand  by 
and  deliver  me !     I  have  none  other  on  whom  I  can  de- 
pend.    And  hQ  knows  with  what  intention  and  for  what 
purposes  I  came  into  this  distant  and  strange  land,  and 
what  little  I  have  suffered  for  his  cause.     At  night  a  re- 
port was  spread  which  inclined  me  to  think  it  would  be 
most  prudent  for  me  to  move  the  next  day.     Accordingly 
I  set  out  after  dinner,  and  lay  in  a  swamp  till  about  sun- 
set ;  but  was  then  kindly  taken  in  by  a  friend.     My  soul 
has  been  greatly  humbled  and  blessed  under  these  diffi- 
culties, and  I  thought  myself  like  some  of  the  old  proph- 
ets   who   were   concealed    in   times   of  public   distress. 
Thursday,  9.  I  promised  God  that  if  he  would  lift  me 
up  I  would  be  wholly  his,  and  spend  as  much  time  in 
returning  thanks  as  I  have   in  seeking  his  protection, 
Avhich  has  been  some  part  of  every  hour.     My  soul  has 
been  much  comforted  in  reading  Alleine's  Letters,  which 
he  wrote  in  prison.     I  felt  strong  confidence  in  God  that 
he  would  deliver  me  ;  being  conscious  that  I  sought  nei 


.J 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH. 


309 


ther  riches  nor  houor,  and  that  what  I  suffered  was  for 
the  sake  of  his  spiritual  Church,  and  the  salvation  of  my 
fellow-men.     I  was  informed  that  Brother  Hartley  was 
apprehended  last  Lord's  day  in  Queen  Anne.     May  the 
Lord  strengthen  and  support  him  while  he  suffers  for 
righteousness'  sake !     He  shall  be  faithfully  remembered 
by  me  in  my  addresses  to  the  throne  of  grace.     This 
evening  I  was  called  upon  to  visit  a  person  in  distress  of 
mind,  and  the  Lord  gave  him  rest  for  his  soul.    Perhaps 
Providence  cast  my  lot  in  this  place  for  the  assistance  of 
this  man.     Friday,  10.  My  heart  was  kept  pure,   and 
panting  after  God,  though  I  was  in  some  sense  a  prisoner, 
and  under  the  necessity  of  being  concealed.     O  my  Lord, 
guide  thy  poor  pilgrim  through  the  rugged  ways  of  this 
ungodly  and  dangerous  world !     My  practice  is  to  keep 
close  to  God  in  prayer,  and  spend  a  part  of  every  hour, 
when  awake,  in  that  exercise.     My  exercises  are  very 
deep  and  various.     The  Lord  makes  great  discoveries  of 
my  defects  and  short-comings  in  many  points.     He  melts 
my  heart  into  humility  and  tenderness;  he  graciously 
draws  me  nearer  and  nearer  to  himself,  and  fills  me  with 
the  spirit  of  holy  love." 

After  about  a  month's  concealment  among  these  stran- 
gers, he  ventured  back  to  Judge  White's  mansion.  The 
iud-e  having  been  seized  on  the  absurd  charge  of  bemg 
a  Methodist,  was  acquitted,  after  five  weeks'  detention, 
and  allowed  to  return  to  his  home.  A  cotemporary  au- 
thority, a  witness  of  many  of  these  suffermgs  of  the 
Methodist  itinerants,  gives  us  a  somewhat  minute  account 
of  Asbury's  present  circumstances.  "  After  having  trav- 
eled and  preached  at  large  with  all  the  zeal,  fidelity,  and 
caution  which  prudence  could  dictate,  he,  being  much 
suspected  as  an  Englishman,  had  at  length  to  retire,  m  a 
great  measure,  for  a  season,  mitil  the  indignation  was 


310  HISTORY    OF    THE 

overpast.  The  spirit  of  the  times  was  such  that  he  could 
not  safely  continue  to  travel  openly.  In  the  year  1778, 
when  the  storm  was  at  its  highest,  and  persecution  raged 
furiously,  he  advisedly  confined  himself  chiefly  to  the 
little  state  of  Delaware,  where  the  laws  were  rather  more 
favorable,  and  the  rulers  and  influential  men  were  some- 
what more  friendly.  For  a  time  he  had  even  there  to 
keep  himself  much  retired.  He  found  an  asylum  in  the 
house  of  his  fast  and  firm  friend,  Thomas  White,  Esq., 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  court  in  Kent  County.  He  was 
a  pious  man,  arul  his  wife  one  of  the  holiest  of  women. 
They  were  great  friends  to  the  cause  of  religion,  and  to 
the  preachers  generally.  From  this  place  of  retreat  he 
could  correspond  with  his  suffering  brethren  who  were 
scattered  abroad.  He  could  also  occasionally  travel 
about,  visiting  the  Societies,  and  sometimes  preach  to  the 
people.  He  was  accessilile  to  all  the  preachers  and  his 
friends  who  came  to  see  him ;  so  that  by  means  of  cor- 
respondence and  visits  they  could  communicate  with  one 
another  for  mutual  counsel,  comfort,  and  encouragement. 
In  some  of  their  movements  they  had  to  be  very  cautious ; 
for  they  were  watched  as  the  partridge  is  watched  by 
the  hawk  on  the  mountain.  However,  his  manner  of 
life  was  such  as  to  procure  him  many  friends,  among 
whom  were  some  of  the  most  respectable  characters  in 
the  state,  and  eventually  he  gaine<l  the  good-will  and 
confidence  of  the  public  generally,  and  of  the  principal 
officers  of  the  state.  Among  those  whose  particular  con- 
fidence he  secured  we  might  mention,  with  Judge  White, 
the  pious  Judge  Barrett,  both  of  whum  opened  their 
houses  for  the  brethren  as  homes,  and  protected  the 
preachers,  and  exerted  their  influence  in  support  of  relig- 
ion. Each  of  them  was  instrumental  in  having  a  preach- 
ing house  built  in  his  respective  neighborhood,  which  to 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        311 

this  day  are  called  White's  Meeting-house  and  Barrett's 
Chapel.  We  may  also  mention  the  late  Richard  Bassett, 
Esq.,  well  known  as  a  distinguished  character,  not  only 
in  the  state,  but  in  the  United  States.  At  different  times 
he  filled  high  and  honorable  stations.  He  was  a  lawyer 
of  note,  a  legislator,  judge,  and  a  governor  of  Delaware. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  a  senator  in  the 
first  Congress,  and  a  judge  of  the  United  States  Court  for 
the  circuit  comprising  the  Districts  of  Pennsylvania,  New 
Jersey,  and  Delaware.  Their  friendship  and  confidential 
intercourse  was  intimate  and  uninterrupted  till  death, 
the  one  surviving  the  other  but  a  few  months.  I  men- 
tion these  names,  and  many  others  might  be  mentioned, 
if  time  would  permit,  as  a  tribute  of  respect  due  to  their 
memory,  in  order  to  give  an  idea  how  the  Lord  providen- 
tially favored  Asbury  and  his  brethren  in  raising  up 
friends  to  open  the  way  before  them,  that  his  word  might 
go  forth  as  a  lamp  that  burneth.  Their  friendship  and 
patronage  not  only  extended  to  him,  but  to  his  suffering 
brethren  generally ;  to  the  persecuted  Societies,  and  to 
the  weeping  cause  of  rehgion.  Under  their  fostering 
protection  bleeding  Zion  smiled  in  the  midst  of  tears. 
This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our 
eyes.  They  found  Asbury  to  be  a  safe  and  a  good  citi- 
zen, a  circumspect  and  a  pious  Christian,  and  a  faithful 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  worthy  of  confidence  as  a  friend 
to  the  country  of  his  choice,  of  which  he  had  voluntarily 
and  providentially  become  a  citizen.  They  also  found 
him  associated  with  others  who  were  plain,  honest,  up- 
right men,  inculcating  religion,  reforming  and  improving 
the  morals  of  the  people.  The  Governor  of  Delaware, 
though  I  believe  not  a  professor  of  religion,  being  influ- 
enced by  good-will  and  friendship  toward  Asbury  and 


n 


312  HISTORY    OF    THE 

his  brethren,  wrote  to  tlie  Governor  of  Maryland  in  be- 
half of  some  of  the  siitVering  preachers  in  that  state,  in 
consequence  of  which  they  were  released  from  recogni- 
zances or  from  prison."^ 

One  cause  of  the  improved  treatment  of  Asbury  and 
his  brethren  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  fact  tiiat  about 
1779  "a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  Rankin  in  1777,  in 
which  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  Americans 
would  become  a  free  and  independent  nation,  that  he  was 
too  much  knit  in  affection  to  many  of  them  to  leave  them, 
and  that  Methodi^t  j»reachers  had  a  great  work  to  do 
under  Gud,  in  this  country,  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  American  officers,  and  had  produced  a  great  change 
in  their  ojiiuions  and  feelings  toward  him."* 

.Vsbury's  retirement,  so  called,  was  a  period  of  no  little 
labor.  He  was  closely  confined  only  about  five  weeks, 
and  there  were  but  eleven  in  which  he  did  not  travel 
more  or  less,**  Through  the  first  year  he  ventured  not 
far  from  home ;  but,  besides  preaching  occasionally,  he 
frequently  held  meetings  for  prayer  and  exhortation 
among  his  friendly  neighbors.  The  preachers  often  met 
him  in  the  hospitable  family  of  Judge  White,  and  he  pri- 
vately held  with  them  there  a  Conference  in  1779.  lie 
was  restless,  however,  under  his  present  restrictions. 
His  energetic  temperament  could  not  brook  confinement. 
Men  constituted  or  endowed  for  great  destinies  have  an 
instinctive,  though  it  be  a  vague,  consciousness  of  their 
high  calling,  and  are  urged  forward  by  instinctive  im- 
pulses to  fulfill  it.  "  My  spiritual  trials,"  he  writes,  "  have 
been  heavier  and  more  grievous  of  late  than  I  have  ever 
experienced  before  in  all  the  course  of  my  pilgrimage. 
They  seem  to  indicate  to  me  that  I  shall  lose  my  soul,  or 

•  Ezekiel  Cooper  on  Asbury,  p.  90. 

«  Lednum,  p.  226.  »  Ibid,  p.  211. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        813 

lose  my  life,  ov  live  for  some  peculiar  usefulness  in  the 
Church  of  Christ."  The  latter  was  the  true  presenti- 
ment. It  was  his  steadfastness  to  American  Methodism, 
during  these  trying  times  when  all  other  foreign  laborers 
deserted  it,  that,  next  to  his  commanding  abilities,  won 
for  him  the  admiration  and  love  of  his  brethren,  and  led 
them,  when  the  storm  had  passed,  to  exalt  him  to  the 
leadership  of  their  cause.  He  did  not  anticipate  his  com- 
ing elevation,  but  he  saw  clearly  that  great  times  were 
approaching — that,  as  he  wrote,  "  the  independence  of 
America  by  a  treaty  of  peace  would  be  a  singular  bless- 
ing, especially  as  it  would  give  the  Gospel  a  free  course 
through  the  land,"  and  he  knew  that  if  his  life  were 
spared  he  should  share  largely  in  this  enlarged  spread  of 
the  kingdom  of  Christ.  He  gradually  ventured  to  preach 
more  openly ;  and  during  the  second  year  of  what  he 
considered  his  confinement,  the  whole  state  of  Delaware 
was  his  Circuit ;  the  Conference  which  had  furtively  met 
at  Judge  White's  house  having  appointed  him  to  it  and 
designated  the  appointment  in  the  Minutes.  The  man- 
sion of  his  friend  was  his  head-quarters ;  it  was  not  ex 
pedient  for  him  to  be  absent  for  a  long  time  from  it ;  it 
was  usually  his  shelter  by  night,  but  his  ministerial  ex- 
cursions were  made  almost  daily. 

The  family  which  thus  gave  refuge  to  him  and  to  not 
a  few  of  his  brethren  during  this  stormy  period  was 
notable  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism.  Like  that  of 
Gough,  at  Perry  Hall,  of  Bassett,  at  Bohemia  Manor, 
and  of  Barratt,  at  "  Barratt's  Chapel,"  Kent,  its  name 
continually  recurs  in  the  Journals  of  Asbury,  Coke,  Gar- 
rettson,  Abbott,  and  in  other  early  Methodist  publications. 
Leaving  Asbury  in  his  comfortable  asylum,  we  may  ap- 
propriately digress,  a  moment,  to  notice  some  of  these 
memorable  historical   families,  who,  though   associated 


314  niSTOKY    OF    TUE 

with  the  highest  social  circles  of  their  times,  counted 
not  their  opulence  nor  their  lives  dear  unto  them,  clioos- 
ing  rather  to  suffer  persecution  with  the  jteople  of  God. 
Thomas  White,  "Chief  Judge  of  the  Common  Pleas," 
had  been  an  unexceptionable  member  of  the  English 
Church  before  he  met  with  the  Methodists.  His  wife 
was  a  lady  of  special  excellence ;  devoted,  charitable, 
strict  in  the  religious  education  of  her  family,  not  omit- 
ting her  numerous  colored  servants,  to  whom  she  carefully 
taught  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Hearing  the  Methodists 
preach,  her  devout  heart  recognized  them  as  congenial 
Christians,  and  she  reported  them  so  favorably  to  her  hus- 
band that  he  was  induced  to  accompany  her  and  their 
children  to  one  of  their  appointments.  The  preachers 
were  invited  to  his  mansion,  ami  it  remained  a  "  preach- 
ing jdace"  till  the  erection  of  White's  Chaj)el.  His  wife, 
Mary  White,  not  only  led  him  to  the  Methodist  com- 
munion, but  became  his  best  guide  to  heaven.  She  was 
the  jtriestess  of  the  family,  a  woman  of  rare  talents,  of 
remarkable  but  modest  courage,  and  of  fervent  zeal. 
When  he  was  seized  by  the  military  patrol  she  clung  to 
him,  di'fending  him,  and  declaring  to  the  ruffians,  who 
brandished  their  swords  over  her,  that  she  feared  them 
not,  until,  overpowered  by  their  numbers,  he  was  borne 
away.  She  soon  followed  them,  found  otit  the  jilace 
of  his  confinement,  and  rested  not  till  she  effected  his 
restoration  to  his  family.  "  On  another  sorrowful  occa- 
sion," says  a  ^lethodist  annalist,  "  when  a  drafted  com- 
pany of  soldiers  came  by  her  house  and  halted,  while  the 
men  were  weeping  on  account  of  leaving  their  parents, 
wives,  and  sisters,  and  while  wives  and  sisters  were  cling- 
ing to  their  husbands  and  brothers,  telling  by  their  gush- 
ing tears  how  deeply  they  felt  as  they  were  parting  with 
them,  fearing  they  should  see  them  no  more,  Mrs,  White 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        315 

kneeled  down  on  the  ground  before  them  and  offered  up 
fervent  prayers,  mingling  her  tears  with  theirs  for  their 
temporal  and  eternal  salvation ;  and  when  the  Method- 
ists were  met  for  worship,  if  there  were  none  present 
more  suitable,  she  took  up  the  cross,  led  the  religious 
exercises,  and  met  the  class — and  she  would  have  gone 
further  and  preached  if  Asbury  had  encouraged  her. 
That  child  of  nature  and  of  grace,  Benjamin  Abbott, 
was  at  Mr.  White's  in  October,  1782;  when  about  to 
start  for  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Barrett's  Chapel,  he  says, 
'Mrs.  White  came   to  me  as  I  sat  on  my  horse,  and 
took  hold  of  my  hand,  exhorting  me  for  some  time.    I  felt 
very  happy  under  her  wholesome  admonitions.'     Thomas 
Ware  says :  '  She  was  a  mother  in  Israel  in  very  deed.' 
When  her  husband  informed  her  that  his  end  was  nigh, 
she  spent  the  last  night  in  supplications  for  him,  and 
with  him  exulted  in  victory  as  he  entered  into  the  joy  of 
his  Lord.     She,  like  her  husband,  professed  and  exem- 
plified the  grace  of  perfect  love.     They  were  lovely  in 
their  lives,  and  in  death  were  not  long  divided ;  she  soon 
followed  him  to  the  '  better  country.'     Near  by  the  old 
homestead  the  bricks  that  arched  their  graves,  now  sunk 
in  the  earth,  mark  the  spot  where  their  heaven-watched 
dust  reposes,  till  they  shall  again  appear  in  the  bloom 
and  beauty  of  immortality."^ 

«  Lednum,  p.  259.  Lednum  visited  the  place  in  1848.  He  found 
there  an  old  negress  who  had  been  a  servant  of  Judge  "White,  who  was 
then  in  her  eighty-eighth  year.  "  Soon  the  little  African  woman,  led  by 
a  girl — for  she  was  almost  blind — came.  She  could  point  to  the  spot 
where  the  house  stood  where  the  preachers  were  secreted,  though  the 
house,  as  well  as  the  wood  that  stood  between  it  and  the  dwell- 
ing-house, has  long  since  disappeared.  She  distinctly  remembered 
all  the  old  preachers  that  visited  her  old  master,  and  could  describe 
them.  The  old  hip-roofed  two-story  house  in  which  Judge  White 
lived  is  still  standing,  and  has  much  of  the  original  material  in  it  after 
the  lapse  of  a  hundred  years.  The  floors  on  which  the  beds  were 
spread,  to  accommodate  the  Methodists  attending  Quarterly  Meetings. 


316  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"  In  moral  wortli,"  says  the  same  authority,  "  Judge 
"Wliite  had  no  superior  in  his  day — liis  house  and  hands 
were  always  open  to  relieve  the  needy — he  was  the  friend 
of  the  poor  and  oppressed,  and  left  no  one  in  bondage 
whom  he  could  make  free.  For  many  years  he  lived  in 
the  enjoyment  of  perfect  love.  Just  before  he  died  hu 
showed  his  son  Samuel  his  books,  and  gave  him  direc- 
tions concerning  the  l>rick  house  that  he  was  building  as 
an  addition  to  his  old  house.  Then,  coming  to  his  wife, 
he  said,  "  I  feel  as  I  never  felt  before,"  and  gave  direc- 
tions conceraing  his  burial.  He  died  in  the  spring  of 
1705,  in  his  sixty-fifth  year.  When  Asbury  heard  of  his 
death,  he  wrote,  "The  news  was  an  awful  shock  to  me; 
I  have  met  with  nothing  like  it  in  the  death  of  any  friend 
on  the  continent.  I  have  lived  days,  weeks,  and  months 
in  his  house.     He  was  among  my  very  best  friends." 

Richard  Bassett,  of  Dover,  Delaware,  was  a  man  of 
pre-eminence  in  the  civil  and  social  life  of  these  times. 
He  first  met  Asbury  in  his  concealment  at  Judge 
"White's  residence.  On  a  professional  journey  to  Mary- 
■  land,  he  called  there  to  spend  a  night  with  his  friend, 
the  Judge.  As  a  door  in  the  house  was  opened  he  ob- 
served Asbury,  with  some  other  Preachew,  apparently 
retired  in  quiet  conversation,  and  inquired  of  Mrs.  White 
who  "  they  were,  dressed  in  sable  garments  and  keeping 
themselves  aside?"  "They  are  some  of  the  best  men  in 
the  world;   they  are  Methodist  Preachers,"  reijlied  the 

and  the  preachers  when  aesembled  for  Conference,  on  which  they  read 
their  Bibles  on  tlieir  knt-es  and  offered  up  their  fervent  prayers,  are  Btill 
there.  While  sitting  in  this  house,  which  sheltered  the  first  race  of 
Methodist  preachers,  I  felt  as  if  it  were  relatively  holy,  having  beou 
sanctified  by  the  presence  and  prayers  of  Asbury,  Shadford,  Wotters, 
Garrettaon,  Pedicord,  Coke,  Whatcoat,  and  many  others.  When  I  lay 
down  on  the  bed  to  pass  the  night,  I  was  less  inclined  to  sleep  than  to 
call  up  the  scenes  that  had  transpired  seventy  years  before.  My  sou] 
was  full  of  other  times  1" 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH.         817 

hostess.  He  was  evidently  disturbed  by  this  intelligence, 
and  observed,  "  Then  I  cannot  stay  here  to-night."  "  You 
must  stay;  they  cannot  hurt  you,"  rejoined  the  lady. 
Sui^per  being  ready,  they  all  sat  down  at  the  table.  Asbury 
had  considerable  conversation  with  Bassett,  by  which  he 
was  convinced  that  Methodist  Preachers  were  not  so  ig- 
norant or  unsociable  as  to  make  them  outcasts  from  civil 
society.  On  taking  leave,  he  invited  Asbury,  more  from 
custom  than  desire,  to  call  on  him  in  case  he  visited  Dover. 
When  Bassett  returned  home  and  informed  his  wife  that 
he  had  been  in  company  with  Methodist  Preachers,  and 
had  invited  one  of  them  to  his  house,  she  was  greatly 
troubled ;  but  was  quieted  when  he  told  her,  "  It  is  not 
likely  that  he  will  come."  But  some  time  later,  Bassett, 
while  looking  out  of  his  window,  saw  the  itinerant  ap- 
proaching. That  evening  Asbury  charmed  by  his  con- 
versation a  large  circle  at  the  tea-table,  till  late  into  the 
night;  and  for  nearly  twoscore  years  Richard  Bassett 
was  his  unfailing  friend. 

Bassett  was  a  man  of  bravery  and  generosity.  Not 
long  after  White  had  joined  the  Methodists  he  visited 
his  friend  at  Dover,  and  spent  a  night  with  him.  All 
Methodists  were  then  denounced  as  Tories,  and  the  rab- 
ble, hearing  of  White's  presence,  approached  Bassett's 
house  to  seize  him.  Bassett  was  a  militia  officer,  and, 
with  drawn  sword,  defied  them  at  his  door.  "  He  is  no 
more  a  Tory  than  you  are,"  he  shouted ;  "  you  shall  have 
him  only  by  passing  over  my  dead  body."  He  compelled 
them  to  fall  back  and  leave  the  premises.  Bassett's  chiv- 
alric  character  and  high  standing  were  not  to  be  trifled 
with,  and  his  friend  remained  unmolested. 

Subsequently  Asbury,  on  visiting  the  family,  describes 
Bassett  as  "  a  very  conversant  and  affectionate  man,  who, 
fi'om  his  own  acknowledgments,  appeal's  to  be  sick  of 


818  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sin.  His  wife  is  under  great  distress — she  prays  much." 
It  was  not  long  before  she  was  rejoicing  in  the  consola- 
tion of  the  Gospel,  and  her  husband  followed  in  her  steps. 
They  became  zealous  and  exemplary  Methodists.  He 
"  lived  a  bright  example  of  holiness,  and  left  the  world 
praising  God."  He  often  preached,  an(^  was  the  chief 
founder  of  "  "Wesley  Chapel,"  in  Dover.  "  Estimating 
him,"  says  a  Methodist  historian,  "according  to  his 
standing,  influence,  and  usefulness  in  the  community,  he 
was  as  important  a  member  as  has  belonged  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church."  He  had  three  residences,  one 
in  Dover,  one  in  Wilmington,  and  another  at  Bohemia 
Manor,  a  famous  locality  in  the  early  Methodist  aimals. 
All  of  them  were  favorite  homes  of  the  Methodist  itin- 
erants, and  scenes  of  early  Quarterly  Conferences  and 
other  extraordinary  meetings.  Bohemia  Manor  consisted 
of  18,000  acres  on  the  Bohemia  and  Elk  Rivers.  Bas- 
sett  owned  6,000  of  the  best  of  these  acres.  He  had  a 
famous  "old  log  Bethesda  Chapel"  on  the  Manor,  in 
which  the  greatest  heroes  of  primitive  Methodism  sound- 
ed their  trumpets.  His  mansion  there  w.as  as  noted  a 
resort  of  Methodist  Preachers  as  Perry  Hall  on  the 
Western  Shore  of  Maryland ;  "  it  was  seldom  without 
some  one  of  them,  and  often  had  a  number  of  them  to- 
gether." The  generous  lawyer  received  one  of  them, 
broken  down  with  age  and  labor,  as  superintendent  of 
his  household.  His  groves  sometimes  resounded  with 
the  melodies  of  Methodist  camp-meetings.  The  M.anor 
became  "  famous  for  Methodism ;  in  almost  every  family 
Methodists  were  found.  Wherever  Mr.  Bassett's  influ- 
ence extended,  he  did  not  suffer  a  drop  of  distilled  liquor 
to  be  used.  His  house  and  table  were  very  plain  ;  while 
he  was  doing  all  in  his  power  for  the  cause  of  Gcd.""* 
T  Lednnin,  p.  275. 


METnODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUiiCH.        319 

His  high  character  secured  the  respect  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens. They  sent  him  as  their  delegate  to  the  Convention 
which  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
as  their  Senator  in  Congress,  and  elected  him  Governor 
of  their  state.  Asbury,  seeing  him  at  last  smitten  with 
paralysis,  called  him  his  "long-loved  friend,"  and  in  a  few 
months  followed  him  to  heaven.  He  died  in  the  faith  in 
1815,^  and  his  funeral,  at  the  Manor,  was  attended  by  a 
great  concourse  of  Methodists  and  other  citizens.  Henry 
Boehm,  the  traveling  companion  of  Asbury,  presided 
over  the  religious  services  of  the  occasion;  Ezekiel 
Cooper  preached  his  funeral  sermon. 

The  "pious  Judge  Barratt"  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, on  the  authority  of  a  cotemporary  writer,  as  one 
of  the  friends  of  Asbury,  who  protected  him  and  other 
suffering  itinerants  in  the  troubled  times  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. His  name  fi-equently  appears  in  the  Journals  of 
Asbury,  but  always  in  brief  though  often  significant  allu- 
sions. "  Barratt's  Chapel"  is  famous  in  our  early  annals, 
and  still  remains,  a  monument  of  its  founder.  "It  is 
forty-two  feet  by  forty-eight,"  says  our  best  chronicler 
of  these  early  times,  "  built  of  bricks,  two  stories  high, 
and  had  a  vestry  room  connected  with  it.  It  was  then, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  after,  far  the  grandest  coun- 
try chapel  that  the  Methodists  had  in  America.  It  was 
not,  however,  finished  till  two  generations  passed  away. 
In  November  of  the  year  1V80  the  first  Quarterly 
Meeting  was  held  in  it.  It  was  supposed  that  there  were 
a  thousand  people  in  attendance.  Dr.  M'Gaw,  Asbury, 
Hartley,  Pedicord,  and  Cromwell  were  there  to  officiate. 
Barratt's  Chapel  is  memorable  as  being  the  place  where 

8  Lednutn,  chap.  42.  His  only  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Hon. 
James  Bayard,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  United  States  wiio 
negotiated  the  Treaty  of  Ghent. 


320  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Asbury  had  their  first  interview,  aud 
where  the  preliminaries  of  forming  the  Methodists  into  a 
Church  lic'gan  in  tliis  country — the  seat  on  wliich  they 
sat  in  the  pulpit  on  that  occasion  is  still  preserved  in  the 
same  place  as  a  memento."" 

Some  time  after  the  decease  of  its  founder,  Asbury 
paused  there,  with  no  little  emotion,  in  his  rapid  course 
over  the  country.  "  I  preached,"  he  writes,  "  at  Barratt's 
(liapel,  and  baptized  some  children.  I  had  powerful 
feelings  of  sympathy  for  the  children  and  grandchildren 
of  that  holy  man  in  life  and  death,  Philip  Karratt.  My 
dear  friends.  Governor  IJassett  and  his  lady,  came  nearly 
forty  miles  to  meet  me."  When,  in  extreme  age,  shortly 
before  liis  death,  the  veteran  Bishop  passed  over  the 
Bame  region,  for  the  last  time,  he  ascended  the  old  pulpit 
and  preached  once  more  amid  its  hallowed  memories, 
tljough  "  in  great  feebleness  of  body."  The  son  of  his 
ancient  friend  was  there  to  welcome  him  to  dinner. 
"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  the  young  man,  "  I  knew  that  my 
father  and  mother  thought  more  of  him  than  of  any  other 
man  on  earth ;  and  well  does  it  become  their  son  to  re- 
P])ect  him."  Tlie  jiatriarch  took  a  pensive  pleasure  in 
his  old  age  in  recalling  such  recollections ;  touching  allu- 
sions to  early  scenes  and  early  friends  continually  occur 
in  his  diary. 

Such  were  some  of  the  influenti.al  supporters  of  Asbury 
in  his  persecutions  when  the  Revolutionary  storm  swept 
over  the  country.  They  protected  him,  and,  at  last,  se- 
cured his  liberty  to  travel  and  preach.  He  seems  to  have 
had  peculiar  success  in  gathering  about  the  Methodist 
standard,  in  these  days  of  its  humiliation,  devout  families 
of  the  liigher  classes.  In  most  of  the  middle  provinces 
there  were  now  examples  of  wealth  and  social  influence 
*  Le\lnam,  p.  265.    Lednam  gives  an  engraving  of  the  chapel. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        321 

consecrated  to  the  struggling  cause ;  opulent  mansions, 
opened,  with  pious  welcome,  to  the  travel-worn  itinerants, 
and  made  not  only  asylums  for  them,  but  sanctuaries  of 
worship  for  their  humble  people.  Asbury's  personal 
character  commanded  the  respect  and  the  admiration  of 
such  families.  While  they  could  not  but  wonder  at  his 
devotion  to  the  lowliest  labors  of  the  ministry,  his  itin- 
erant heroism,  they  saw  in  him  intrinsic  greatness  of  soul, 
and  an  intelligence,  an  amenity,  and  a  dignity,  which  ex- 
torted the  veneration  of  the  cultivated  circles  that  gath- 
ered under  their  roofs,  however  slight  may  have  been  the 
sympathy  of  the  company  with  his  peculiar  religious 
opinions  and  labors.  Immediately  on  his  introduction 
into  any  intelligent  cii'cle  was  visibly  felt  that  deferential 
impression  of  his  presence  which  a  cotemporary,  hereto- 
fore cited,  speaks  of  as  invariable  and  irresistible.  It  is 
probable  that  no  man  of  his  time,  except  Washington, 
was  regarded  in  the  United  States  with  more  reverential 
respect,  not  to  say  diffidence,  than  Francis  Asbury. 

It  was  in  the  period  of  his  retirement  that  he  won  the 
friendship  of  Rev.  Dr.  M'Gaw — a  consolation  to  him 
through  the  remainder  of  his  life.  "  Both  Asbury  and 
Garrettson  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  good  serv- 
ice the  doctor  rendered  them  and  the  cause  of  Method- 
ism. Through  M'Gaw's  friendship,  some  of  the  preachers 
gained  access  to  a  number  of  families  in  Dover,  Del., 
that  became  Methodists.  Soon  after,  the  doctor  became 
Rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church  in  Philadelphia.  The  first 
Sabbath  that  Dr.  Coke  spent  in  America  he  preached 
once  for  Dr.  M'Gaw  at  St.  Paul's,  and  once  at  St.  George's. 
When  Bishop  Coke  and  Bishop  Asbury  preached  in 
that  city  the  doctor  was  generally  one  of  their  hearers." 
In  1779  a  chapel  was  erected  and  opened  for  worship  by 
Dr.  M'Gaw  at  Dover.  It  was  called  the  "Forrest 
A— 21 


322  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Chapel,"  and  was  the  first  meeting-house  that  the  Meth- 
odists had  in  the  state.  It  was  afterward  called 
"Thomas's  Chapel."'" 

The  earliest  Methodist  historian  describes  the  times 
immediately  preceding  Asbury's  retirement  as  generally 
threatening  to  the  new  denomination.  "  The  preachers," 
he  says,  "  fomid  great  difticiilties  in  keeping  their  stations ; 
and  some  were  forced  to  be  given  up,  so  that  some  of 
the  classes  were  entirely  broken  up.  It  might  be  well 
said  that  'without  were  fightings,  within  were  fears.' 
"War  and  the  shedding  of  blood  were  heard  of  in  all  di- 
rections ;  armies  marching  back  and  forth  one  after 
another;  and  in  many  places  the  people  were  in  great 
confusion,  so  that  religion  was  almost  banished  from 
some  neighborhoods  where  it  had  been  lively.  Some  of 
our  Societies  in  the  North  sufl'ered  more  than  we  did  in 
the  south  part  of  Virginia.  But  the  Lord  took  care  of 
his  own  work."" 

Protected  by  his  influential  friends,  Asbury  was  at  last 
enabled  to  emerge  out  of  his  comparative  obscurity  in 
Delaware,  after  spending  there  two  years  and  one  month, 
lie  came  forth  to  be  the  hero  of  American  Methodist 
history  through  all  the  remainder  of  his  lite.  He  had 
been  found  faithful  when  all  his  British  associates  had 
retreated  from  the  stormy  arena.  The  native  preachers 
now  not  only  revered,  but  loved  him.  Some  of  them  had 
penetrated  to  his  retreat,  as  we  have  seen,  and  held  an 
informal  Conference  in  the  house  of  Judge  "White;  they 
there  declared  him  their  "  general  assistant "  or  superin- 
tendent, as  Rankin  had  abdicated  that  office  by  leaving 
the  country.  And  now  began  those  incredible  tours 
over  the  continent,  averaging  two  a  year,  for  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  which,  with  his  daily  preaching  in 
>o  Lfldnum,  pp.  233,  234.  >>  Lee,  p.  62. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL     CIILRCH.        323 

chapels,  court-houses,  barns,^private  houses,  or  the  open 
air,  present  perhaps  the  most  extraordinary  example  of 
ministerial  labor  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  ancient  or 
modern.  His  meager  Journals  give  us  few  details  ;  the 
biographer  or  historian  is  at  a  loss  to  sketch  his  courses 
from  the  slight  jottings  of  .the  record  ;  the  reader  is  be- 
wildered with  the  rapidity  of  his  movements;  but 
thi-ough  them  all  the  tireless,  the  invincible,  the  gigantic 
apostle  appears,  planning  grandly  and  as  grandly  execut- 
ing his  plans ;  raising  up  hosts  of  preachers  ;  forming 
new  Churches,  new  Circuits,  and  new  Conferences;  ex- 
tending his  denomination  north,  south,  east,  west,  till  it 
becomes,  before  his  death,  coextensive  with  the  nation, 
and  foremost,  in  energy  and  success,  of  all  American  relig- 
ious communions. 

He  hastened  southward  and  averted  a  schism  likely  to 
have  been  occasioned  by  the*  clamorous  demand  of  peo- 
ple and  preachers  for  the  sacraments.  He  journeyed  to 
and  fro  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  He  found  it 
necessary  to  use  two  horses  on  this  difficult  route.  "  We 
set  out,"  he  says  in  one  instance,  "for  Crump's,  over  rocks, 
hills,  creeks,  and  pathless  woods.  The  young  man  with  me 
was  heartless  before  we  had  traveled  a  mile ;  but  when  he 
saw  how  I  could  bush  it,  and  sometimes  force  my  way 
through  a  thicket  and  make  the  young  saplings  bend  be- 
fore me,  and  twist  and  turn  out  of  the  way  or  path,  for 
there  was  no  road,  he  took  courage.  With  great  difficulty 
we  came  into  the  settlement  aboiit  two  o'clock,  after  trav- 
eling eight  or  nine  hours,  the  people  looking  almost  as 
wild  as  the  deer  in  the  woods.  I  have  only  time  to  pray 
and  write  in  my  Journal;  always  upon  the  wing;  as  the 
rides  are  so  long  and  the  roads  so  bad,  it  takes  me  many 
hours,  for  in  general  I  walk  my  horse.  I  crossed  Rocky 
River  about  ten  miles  from  Haw  River.     It  was  rocky, 


324  HISTORY    OF    THE 

sure  enough.  I  can  see  little  else  but  cabins  in  these  parts 
built  with  poles.  I  crossed  Deop  River  in  a  ferryboat, 
and  the  poor  ferryman  swore  because  I  had  not  a  sliilling 
to  give  him."  Such  were  common  examples  of  liis  niin- 
isterial  itinerancy.  And  amid  these  scenes  he  writes, 
"  I  was  never  more  devoted  to  God — it  makes  me  think 
I  am  in  my  duty.  I  was  tempted  and  tried  in  Delaware 
to  prepare  me  for,  and  drive  me  to,  this  work  ;  and  be- 
lie\  e  if  I  had  not  started  I  should  have  suffered  great 
loss  in  my  soul.  I  admire  the  hand  of  God  in  disposing 
of  me,  and  wonder  and  own  his  providence." 

He  returns  northward  through  Virgini;i,  Maryland, 
Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  meeting  his  fellow- 
laborers  in  Quarterly  and  Annual  Conferences,  and  inspir- 
iting the  Churches.  He  rejoices  to  greet  Jarratt  again, 
but  still  more  to  find,  all  along  his  route,  zealous  native 
preachers  rising  up  to  extend  the  Church.  He  sees  Ab- 
bott for  the  first  time,  and  says  "his  word  comes  with 
great  power ;  the  people  fall  to  the  ground  under  it,  and 
sink  into  a  passive  state,  helpless,  motionless  ;  he  is  a 
man  of  uncommon  zeal,  and  (although  his  language  has 
somewhat  of  incorrectness)  of  good  utterance."  He 
learns  as  he  presses  onward  that  "there  is  daily  a  great 
turning  to  God  in  new  places,  and  that  the  work  of  sanc- 
titication  goes  on  in  our  old  Societies."  In  about  ten 
months  he  traveled  about  four  thousand  miles,  over  the 
worst  roads,  and  preached  upon  an  average  a  sermon  a 
day. 

In  May,  1781,  he  hastens  southward  again,  and  is  soon 
penetrating  the  wilderaess.  By  the  first  week  in  June 
he  approaches  the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac,  and 
writes :  "  I  am  kept  in  peace,  and  greatly  pleased  I  am 
to  get  into  the  woods,  where,  although  alone,  I  have 
blessed  company,  and  sometimes  think,  Who  so  happy  as 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         325 

myself?"  After  swimming  his  horse  "  over  the  Great 
Capon  River,  fatigued  and  weary,  he  found  rest  in  the 
cabin  of  a  friendly  settler.  His  resting-place  was  on  the 
top  of  a  chest,  and  his  clothes  his  only  covering.  This, 
however,  was  better  fare  than  he  often  had.  Frequently, 
when  benighted  in  the  wilderness,  he  has  slept  on  the 
ground,  or  on  rocks,  or  on  boards  in  a  deserted  cabin, 
with  nothing  to  eat.  Being  unable  to  cross  the  South 
Branch,  he  was  obliged,  as  the  explorers  express  it,  to 
strike  for  the  mountains.  On  the  summit  of  one  of  these 
ranges  he  found  a  congregation  as  wild  as  the  wilderness 
around  them.  Here  he  remained  over  Sabbath,  and  the 
mountain  settlers  were  summoned  far  and  near  to  listen 
to  the  word.  When  the  hour  for  preaching  came  about 
two  hundred  persons  were  collected,  and  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  praise  waked  the  echoes  of  the  mountain. 
Fi'om  hence  he  went  to  another  appointment,  where  he 
had  three  hundred  hearers.  Crossing  the  South  Branch 
he  entered  a  settlement  of  Germans,  and  as  he  could  not 
preach  in  that  language  he  expressed  a  wish  that  the 
Methodist  Church  had  German  preachers,  for  he  could 
see  by  the  spirit  of  the  people  that  a  great  work  might 
be  wrought  among  them.  What  Asbury  sighed  for  has 
since  been  fully  realized.  Anon  we  find  him  in  the  val- 
ley; above  and  around  him  rose  up  in  their  grandeur 
the  AUeghanies,  furnishing  themes  of  thought  for  the 
loftiest  contemplation,  and  inspiring  a  mind  like  his  with 
profound  emotions  of  reverence  and  love  for  the  hand 
that  had  reared  them  and  covered  their  summits  with 
living  verdure.  In  crossing  the  Fork  Mountain  he  found 
another  German  settlement,  and  was  much  comforted  in 
spirit  in  striving  to  preach  to  them.  Some  nights  after- 
ward we  find  him  on  the  banks  of  Lost  River,  sympa- 
thizing with  and 'praying  for  the  men  who   had   been 


326  HISTORY    OF   THE 

drafted  for  the  army.  Again  we  find  him  benighted  in 
the  mountains,  sleeping  among  the  rocks,  with  notliing 
for  his  covering  but  the  vaulted  sky.  Thus  on  he  trav- 
eled until  he  reached  Leesburg,  where  he  held  a  quarterly 
meeting,  and  thence  he  pursued  his  way,  preaching  from 
place  to  place,  through  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.'"* 

lie  continued  during  the  ensuing  three  years  to  fly 
like  the  apocalyptic  angel,  "  having  the  everlasting  Gos- 
pel to  preach  "  over  all  the  central  parts  of  the  continent, 
from  New  York  to  Xorth  Carolina.  "  The  Lord,"  he 
writes,  "  is  my  witness  that  if  my  whole  body,  yea, 
every  hair  of  my  head,  could  labor  and  sufier,  they  should 
be  freely  given  up  for  God  and  souls."  In  November, 
1784,  weary  and  worn  by  travel  and  preaching,  he 
arrived,  on  Sunday,  during  public  worship,  at  his  friend 
Barratt's  Chapel.  A  man  of  small  stature,  ruddy  com- 
plexion, brilliant  eyes,  long  hair,  feminine  but  nnisical 
voice,  and  gowned  as  an  English  clergyman,  was  offici- 
ating. Asbury  ascended  the  pulpit  and  embraced  and 
kissed  him  before  the  whole  assembly,  for  the  itinerant 
recognized  him  as  another  messenger  from  Wesley  come 
to  his  relief  after  the  desertion  of  all  his  English  associ- 
ates, a  man  who,  though  of  dwarfish  body,  had  an  im- 
measurable soul,  and  had  become  a  chieftain  of  Methodism 
in  England,  Ireland,  and  Wales,  only  second  to  Wesley 
himself  Asbury  knew  not  yet  the  full  import  of  his 
mission ;  but  after  his  labors  and  sufferings,  as  Wesley's 
solitary  representative  in  America,  any  such  visitor  was  to 
him  like  an  angel  from  heaven,  and  he  knew  the  man  too 
well  to  doubt  that  his  presence  in  the  new  world  would 
make  an  era  in  its  struggling  Methodism.  This  little 
man,  of  gigantic  soul,  whom  Asbury,  mourning  his 
death  years  afterward,  was  to  characterize  as  "  the  great- 
ly StricklaDd's  Asbury,  chap.  6. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         327 

est  man  of  the  last  century  in  Christian  labors,"  not  ex- 
cepting Whitefield  or  Wesley,  represented,  in  the  humble 
pulpit  of  Barratt's  Chapel,  the  most  momentous  revolution  , 
in  American  Methodism.  He  was  the  "Rev.  Thomas 
Coke,  LL.D.,  late  of  Jesus  College,  Oxford,"  but  now  the 
first  Protestant  bishop  of  the  western  hemisphere." 
Great  events  were  at  hand ;  but  before  introducing  the 
stranger  more  fully  upon  the  scene,  it  is  expedient  that 
we  cast  our  glance  repeatedly  back  again  over  our  pres- 
ent period,  for  other  and  extraordinary  men  were  abroad, 
laying  deeply  and  widely  the  foundations  of  the  coming 
reconstruction  ;  men,  some  of  whose  once  humble  names 
become  more  and  more  illustriously  historical  as  the  re- 
sults of  their  self-sacrificing  labors  still  develop  in  the 
progress  of  the  denomination. 

"  Asbury's  consecration  to  the  episcopate  was  the  first  Protestant 
ordination  of  the  kind  in  the  new  world,  but  Coke's  was  the  first /or  it. 


328  HISTORY    OF    THE 


CHAPTER  m. 

LABORS     AND     TRIALS     DURING     THE    REVOLU- 
TIONARY   WAR. 

Bankin  itinerating  —  At  Ptriy  Hall  —  Joins  Shadford  in  Virginia  —  The 
"Great  Revival"  there  —  Jarratt  —  Kankin  returns  to  England — His 
Death  —  His  Adminictration  in  America  —  Ilis  Treatment  of  Asbiiry 
—  Martin  Kodda  —  He  inteniuddlea  with  Politics  —  Clowe's  Rising 
and  Execution  —  Persecution  of  the  Methodists  —  Shadford  —  His  last 
Internew  with  Asburr  —  His  Trials  —  His  Retam  to  England  —  Fur- 
ther Traces  of  his  Life  —  His  Death. 

Rankin  continued  in  the  colonies  till  the  spring  of  1778. 
After  the  Conference  of  1775  we  can  trace  him  through 
New  Jersey,  thence  into  Pennsylvania,  thence  to  Dela- 
ware and  ^laryland  ;  he  preached  zealously,  but  fretted 
continually  under  "the  alarm  upon  alarm"  from  New 
England.  In  July  he  was  at  Gunpowder  Falls,  Mary 
land,  where  he  preached  to  a  large  assembly  in  observ- 
ance of  the  Fa.st  Day  appointed  by  Congress.  "  I  en- 
deavored," he  says,  "  to  open  up  the  cause  of  all  our 
misery.  I  told  them  that  the  sins  of  Great  Britain  and 
her  colonies  had  long  called  aloud  for  vengeance,  and  in 
a  peculiar  sense  the  dreadful  sin  of  buying  and  selling  the 
souls  and  bodies  of  the  poor  Africans.  I  felt  but  poorly 
when  I  began,  but  the  Lord  was  my  strength,  and  en- 
abled me  to  speak  with  power."  lie  hastened  on  to 
Perry  Hall.  "I  spent,"  he  writes,  "a  most  agreeable 
evening  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gough,  and  the  rest  of  the 
family.  A  numerous  family  of  the  servants  were  called 
in  to  prayer  and  exhortation ;  so  that,  with  them  and 
the  rest  of  the  house,  we  had  a  little  congregation.     The 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       829 

Lord  was  in  the  midst,  and  we  praised  him  with  joyful 
lips.  The  simplicity  of  spirit  discovered  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gough  was  truly  pleasing.  At  every  opportunity  he 
was  declaring  what  the  Lord  had  done  for  his  soul :  still 
wondering  at  the  matchless  love  of  Jesus,  who  had 
plucked  him  as  a  brand  from  the  burning." 

In  the  next  spring  we  find  him  in  Virginia,  rejoicing 
in  the  "Great  Revival,"  which  still  prevailed  there 
through  several  of  its  counties.  Arriving  at  Leesburgh, 
he  says,  "  I  called  at  Mr.  Fairfax's,  (a  relation  of  old  Lord 
Fairfax,)  a  gentleman  of  large  estate,  and  who  of  late  has 
been  savingly  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  He  was  over  at  Baltimore,  at  our  little 
Conference  ;  and,  at  the  love-feast  that  followed,  he  spoke 
of  what  God  had  done  for  his  soul,  with  such  simplicity 
and  unction  from  on  high  as  greatly  affected  every  one 
who  heard  him.  May  he  live  to  be  an  ornament  to  the 
Gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus !"  On  the  last  day  of  the 
month  Shadford,  flaming  with  the  prevalent  religious 
excitement,  came  upon  his  path,  and  they  rejoiced  to- 
gether. "  His  coming  strengthened  my  hands,"  writes 
Rankin ;  for  the  latter  was  worn  out  with  illness,  labors, 
and  anxieties  about  the  war.  "I  preached,"  he  contin- 
ues, "  at  the  chapel,  a  little  way  from  Burshaw's.  I  felt 
poorly,  both  in  body  and  mind,  but  the  Lord  stood  by 
me  and  enabled  me  to  speak  with  a  degree  of  power  and 
divine  pungency.  Afterward  we  met  the  Society,  and 
found  the  presence  of  the  Lord  with  us.  After  dinner  I 
observed  to  Mr.  Shadford  that  I  feared  I  should  not  have 
strength  to  preach  in  the  afternoon ;  a  little  rest,  how- 
ever, refreshed  me,  and  at  four  o'clock  I  went  to  the 
chapel  again  and  preached  from  Rev.  iii,  8.  Toward  the 
close  of  the  sermon  I  had  an  uncommon  struggle  in  my 
breast,  and,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  my  soul  was  so 


S30  HISTORY    OF    THE 

filled  with  the  power  and  love  of  God,  that  I  could  scarce 
get  out  my  words.  I  had  hardly  spoken  two  sentences 
while  under  this  amazing  influence  before  the  very  house 
seemed  to  shake,  and  all  the  people  were  overcome  with 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel.  Such  a  scene 
my  eyes  saw  and  ears  heard  as  I  never  was  witness  to 
before.  Through  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God  I  had 
seen  many  glorious  displays  of  the  arm  of  the  Lord  in 
diflll'rent  parts  of  his  vineyard,  but  such  a  time  as  this  I 
never,  never  beheld.  Numbers  were  calling  out  for 
mercy,  and  many  were  mightily,  praising  God  their 
Saviour;  while  others  were  in  an  agony  for  full  redemp- 
tion in  the  blood  of  Jesus.  Soon  my  voice  was  drowned 
amid  the  sounds  of  prayer  and  praise.  Husbands  were 
inviting  their  wives  to  go  to  lu'aven  with  them,  and  par- 
ents calling  upon  their  children  to  come  to  the  Lord 
Jesus ;  and  what  was  ])eculiarly  afllecting,  I  observed  in 
the  gallery  apj>roj»riated  for  the  black  peojile  almost  the 
whole  of  them  upon  their  knees ;  some  for  themselves, 
and  others  for  their  distressed  companions.  In  short, 
look  where  we  would,  all  was  wonder  and  amazement. 
As  my  strength  was  almost  gone,  I  desired  Mr.  Shadford 
to  speak  a  few  words  to  them.  He  attempted  so  to  do, 
but  was  so  overcome  with  the  divine  presence  that  he 
was  obliged  to  sit  down ;  and  this  was  the  case,  both 
with  him  and  myself,  over  and  over  again.  We  could 
only  sit  still  and  let  the  Lord  do  his  own  work.  F'or  up- 
ward of  two  hours  the  mighty  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  continued  upon  the  congregation.  Such  a  day 
of  the  Son  of  man  my  eyes  never  beheld  before.  From 
the  best  accounts,  upward  of  fifty  persons  were  awakened 
and  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  God  that  day ;  besides 
many  who  were  enabled  to  witness  that  the  blood  of 
Jesus  cleansed  them  from  all  sin." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        331 

It  seems  that  he  lingered  among  the  scenes  of  the  Vir- 
ginia revival  about  two  naonths,  witnessing  the  triumphs 
of  the  Gospel  on  every  hand.  On  July  2,  he  and  Shad- 
ford  rode  to  Jarratt's  home  and  were  "received  with 
open  arms."  "  I  preached,"  he  writes,  "  the  next  day, 
not  far  from  his  house,  to  a  deeply  attentive  congrega- 
tion. Many  were  much  aiFected  at  the  preaching,  but 
far  more  at  the  meeting  of  the  Society.  Mr.  Jarratt  him- 
self was  constrained  to  praise  God  aloud  for  his  great 
love  to  him  and  to  his  people.  Sunday,  1.  I  preached  at 
W.'s  chapel,  about  twenty  miles  from  Mr.  Jarratt's.  The 
house  was  greatly  crowded,  and  four  or  five  hundred  stood 
at  the  doors  and  windows,  and  listened  with  unabated 
attention.  I  preached  from  Ezekiel's  vision  of  the  dry 
bones :  "  And  there  was  a  great  shaking."  I  was  obliged 
to  stop  again  and  again,  and  beg  of  the  people  to  com- 
pose themselves.  But  they  could  not;  some  on  their 
knees,  and  some  on  their  faces,  were  crying  mightily  to 
God  all  the  time  I  w^as  preaching.  Hundreds  of  negroes 
were  among  them,  with  the  tears  streaming  down  their 
faces.  The  same  power  we  found  in  meeting  the  Society, 
and  many  were  enabled  to  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable. 
In  the  cool  of  the  evening  I  preached  out  of  doors,  and 
many  found  an  imcommon  blessing.  Every  day  the  en- 
suing week  I  preached  to  large  and  attentive  congrega- 
tions. The  weather  was  violently  hot,  and  the  fatigue 
of  riding  and  preaching  so  often  was  great.  But  God 
made  up  all  this  to  me  by  his  comfortable  presence. 
On  Thursday,  11,  I  preached  to  a  large  congregation  at 
the  preaching-house  near  Mr.  Jarratt's.  After  laboring 
at  several  places  on  Friday  and  Saturday,  on  Sunday,  14, 
I  came  to  Mr.  B.'s,  where  I  preached  and  met  the  Soci- 
ety. The  congregation  was,  as  before,  abundantly  larger 
than  the  chapel  could  contain ;  and  we  had  almost  such 


332  HISTORY    OF    THE 

.1  flay  as  fourteen  days  ago,  only  attended  with  a  more 
deep  and  solemn  work.  What  a  work  is  God  working 
in  this  corner  of  Mr.  Jarratt's  parish !  It  seemed  as  if 
all  the  country  for  nine  or  ten  miles  around  were  ready 
to  turn  to  God.  In  the  evening  I  rode  to  Mr.  S.'s,  and 
found  a  whole  family  fearing  and  loving  God.  Mr.  S.,  a 
sensible  and  judicious  man,  had  been  for  many  years  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  observed,  *IIow  amazing  the 
change  was  which  had  been  lately  wrought  in  the  j)lace 
where  he  lived !  That,  before  the  Methodists  carne  into 
these  parts,  when  he  was  called  by  his  office  to  attend 
the  court,  there  was  nothing  but  drunkenness,  cursing, 
swearing,  and  fighting,  most  of  the  time  the  court  sat ; 
whereas  now  nothing  is  heard  but  prayer  and  praise,  and 
conversing  about  God  and  the  things  of  God.'  INfonday, 
15.  I  rode  towanl  North  Carolina.  In  every  place  the 
congregations  were  large,  and  received  the  word  with 
all  readiness  of  mind.  I  know  not  th.at  I  have  spent 
such  a  week  since  I  came  to  America.  I  saw  everywhere 
such  a  simplicity  in  the  ])eople,  with  such  a  vehement 
thirst  after  the  word  of  God,  that  I  frequently  preached 
and  continued  in  prayer  till  I  was  hardly  able  to  stand. 
Intleed,  there  was  no  getting  away  from  them  while  I 
was  able  to  speak  one  sentence  for  God.  Sunday,  21.  I 
preached  at  Roanoke  Chapel  to  more  than  double  of 
what  the  house  would  contain.  In  general,  the  white 
people  were  within  the  chapel,  and  the  black  people 
without.  Tlie  windows  being  .all  open,  every  one  could 
hear,  and  hundreds  felt  the  word  of  God.  Many  were 
bathed  in  tears,  and  others  rejoicing  with  joy  unspeak- 
able. When  the  Society  met  many  could  not  refrain 
from  praising  God  aloud.  I  preached  to  a  large  com- 
pany in  the  afternoon,  and  concluded  the  day  with  prayer 
and  thanksgiving.     Tuesday,  23.  I  crossed  the  Roanoke 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        383 

River,  and  preached  at  a  chapel  in  North  Carolina.  And 
I  preached  every  day  to  very  large  and  deeply  attentive 
congregations,  although  not  Avithout  much  labor  and  pain, 
through  the  extreme  heat  of  the  weather.  On  Tuesday, 
30,  was  our  Quarterly  Meeting.  I  scarce  ever  remem- 
ber such  a  season.  No  chapel  or  preaching-house  in  Vir- 
ginia could  have  contained  one  third  of  the  congregation. 
Our  friends,  knowing  this,  had  contrived  to  shade  with 
boughs  of  trees  a  space  that  would  contain  two  or  three 
thousand  persons.  Under  this,  wholly  screened  from  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  we  held  our  general  love-feast.  It  began 
between  eight  and  nine  on  Wednesday  morning,  and 
continued  till  noon.  Many  testified  that  they  had  '  re- 
demption in  the  blood  of  Jesus,  even  the  forgiveness  of 
sins.'  And  many  were  enabled  to  declare  that  it  had 
'  cleansed  them  from  all  sin.'  So  clear,  so  full,  so  strong 
was  their  testimony,  that  while  some  were  speaking  their 
experience  hundreds  were  in  tears,  and  others  vehement- 
ly crying  to  God  for  pardon  or  holiness.  About  eight 
our  watch-night  began.  Mr.  Jarratt  preached  an  excel- 
lent sermon;  the  rest  of  the  Preachers  exhorted  and 
prayed  with  divine  energy.  Surely,  for  the  work  wrought 
on  these  two  days  many  will  praise  God  to  all  eternity.'" 
On  the  2Vth  of  August  he  held  another  Quarterly 
Meeting,  "  which,"  he  says,  "  began  as  usual  with  our 
love-feast  and  ended  with  our  watch-afternoon.  Truly 
this  was  a  great  day  of  the  Son  of  man,  and  great  was 
our  glorying  in  God  our  Saviour.  In  the  love-feast  the 
flame  of  divine  love  ran  from  heart  to  heart,  and  many 
were  enabled  to  declare  the  great  things  which  the  Lord 
had  done  for  their  souls.     Early  in  the  morning  some  of 

>  This  extract  is  not  in  Eankin'a  Life,  from  which  my  other  citations 
are  taken,  but  is  appended  to  Jarratt's  "Narrative,"  as  sent  to  "Wesley 
by  Eankin.    See  Asbury's  Journals,  i,  227. 


334  HISTORY    OF    THE 

our  kind  friends  came  and  told  me  that  they  were  in- 
formed a  company  of  the  militia  with  their  officers  in- 
tended to  take  me  and  the  other  preachers  up.  Some, 
with  tear?,  would  have  persuaded  me  to  leave  the  place 
for  safety.  I  thanked  them,  but  I  added,  '  I  am  come 
hither  by  the  providence  of  God  ;  I  am  sent  on  an  errand 
of  love  to  souls  ;  thus  engaged  in  my  Lord's  work  I  fear 
nothing,  and  will  abide  the  consequences  be  they  what 
they  may.'  I  had  retired  a  little  by  myself  when  one  and 
another  came  to  my  room  door  and  begged  I  would  not 
venture  out  to  preach,  for  the  officers  and  their  men  were 
come.  I  felt  no  perturbation  of  mind,  but  was  perfectly 
c.ilm.  I  told  our  friemls  their  business  was  to  jiray,  and 
mine  to  deliver  the  message  of  God.  Soon  after  I  went  to 
the  arbor,  wliiih  was  fitted  up  for  preaching,  and  there 
I  beheld  the  soldiers  in  the  skirts  of  the  congregation. 
After  singing  I  called  on  all  the  people  to  lift  up  their 
hearts  to  God  as  the  heart  of  one  man.  They  did  so  in- 
dee<l.  When  we  arose  from  our  knees  most  of  the  con- 
gregation were  bathed  in  tears ;  and  I  beheld  several  ot 
the  officers  and  their  men  wiping  their  eyes  also.  I  had 
not  spoken  ten  minutes  when  a  cry  went  through  all  the 
people,  an<l  I  observed  some  of  the  officers,  as  well  as 
many  of  the  soldiers,  trembling  as  they  stood.  I  con- 
cluded my  sermon  in  peace  ;  and  the  other  preachers 
prayed  and  exhorted  after  me,  till  the  conclusion  of  the 
service.  I  was  informed  afterward  by  some  of  our  friends 
that  some  of  the  officers  said,  '  God  forbid  that  we  should 
hurt  one  hair  of  the  head  of  such  a  minister  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  has  this  day  so  clearly  and  powerfully 
shown  us  the  way  of  salvation.'  They  departed  to  their 
own  homes,  and  we  spent  the  evening  in  peace  and  love." 
Tliis  afternoon  he  records  a  strong  impression  upon  his 
mind  that  there  had  been  an  engagement  between  the 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        835 

British  and  American  troops.  The  apprehension  was 
very  natural  to  his  morbid  fears,  and  such  events  were 
constantly  imminent.  Two  days  later  an  express  passed 
him  announcing  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  and  that  "  some 
thousands  of  the  American  troops  were  cut  to  pieces." 
The  report  was  taken  as  the  test  whether  his  presenti- 
ment "  were  of  God  or  not."  Of  course  it  only  deepened 
his  alarm  at  the  state  of  the  country  and  his  resolution 
to  leave  it.  He  hastened  northward,  and  we  hear  little 
more  of  him  till  his  arrival  in  London,  June,  1778.2 

The  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  that  city,  where 
he  preached  two  or  three  times  a  week,  led  a  Class,  and 
did  other  services  in  the  Wesleyan  Chapels  during  more 
than  thirty  years.  He  was  present  at  the  death-bed  of 
Wesley  in  City  Road  parsonage.  In  1810  his  own 
health,  which  had  been  feeble  for  years,  finally  gave  way. 
About  a  week  before  his  death,  Benson,  the  Wesleyan 
commentator,  visited  him,  and  records  that  "  among 
many  other  things  he  said,  '  I  long  to  publish  with  my 
latest  breath  His  love  and  guardian  care.'  I  said,  'I 
doubt  not  but  you  will  publish  it  to  the  last.'  He  re- 
plied, '  It  is  what  I  have  prayed  for  for  many  years.'  He 
then  broke  out  in  praise,  '  O  glory,  glory  forever,  glory 
be  to  God  for  all  his  goodness !  I  have  here  a  comfort- 
able bed  to  lie  on,  kind  friends  about  me  who  love  me, 


2  Lednum  represents  Mm  in  New  York  at  the  end  of  1177.  Lee  says 
he  "  left  about  the  middle  of  September,"  1777 ;  but  at  this  date  he 
only  left  Maryland.  Sprague  (Annals,  etc.,  vii,  33,)  says  "it  does  not 
appear  when  or  from  what  port  he  sailed."  Eankin  published  two 
autobiographical  narratives  ;  the  second  is  usually  cited,  and  fails  to 
give  many  important  dates  ;  the  first  (Armin.  Mag.,  ii,  197)  says,  "  The 
British  being  in  possession  of  Philadelphia,  I  left  Maryland  in  Septem- 
ber, and  through  divers  dangers  got  safe  into  that  city  in  the  month  of 
November.  I  spent  the  winter  there,  and  left  the  Capes  of  Delaware  on 
the  17th  of  March,  1778,  and  arrived  safe  at  the  Cove  of  Cork  on  the 
15th  of  April." 


336  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  all  the  blessings  I  could  have,  together  with  the 
grace  of  God  and  hopes  of  glory.'"  Three  days  before 
his  death  Benson  writes,  "I  found  him  very  much 
weaker,  but  perfectly  resigned  to  the  will  of  God,  and 
patiently  waiting  till  his  change  should  come.  He  de- 
sired his  daughter-in-law  to  tell  me  what  had  been  de- 
termined about  the  services  to  be  performed  at  his  funeral. 
'  Let  my  name,'  said  he,  '  be  written  in  the  dust ;  but  \i 
anything  can  be  said  on  the  occasion  of  my  death  tliat 
may  benefit  the  living,  let  it  be  done.'  '  Is  there  any 
particular  text,'  I  asked,  '  which  you  would  wish  to  be 
spoken  from  on  the  occasion?'  After  pausing  a  little 
he  said,  '  As  a  general  sulyect  I  know  none  more  suita- 
able  than  1  Peter  i,  3,  "  Blessed,"  etc. ;  but  let  my  name 
be  written  in  the  dust.'  As  he  e.xpressed  a  desire  for 
more  consolation,  I  said,  'I  hope  you  will  not  reason 
about  that :  leave  it  entirely  to  the  Lord.  lie  has  for 
many  years  enabled  you  to  show  your  faith  by  your 
works,  by  living  to  him  in  whom  you  believe ;  and  your 
state  cannot  now  be  affected  by  your  feeling  a  greater  or 
less  measure  of  consolation.  Your  whole  reliance  must 
be  on  the  word  and  promise  of  Ilim  who  will  never  leave 
those  that  trust  in  him.  The  mercy,  truth,  and  faithful- 
ness of  God  in  Christ  must  be  the  ground  of  your  confi- 
dence.' We  then  joined  in  prayer  and  were  refreshed 
imleed.  He  was  afl!ected  and  filled  with  consolation, 
and,  when  I  rose  from  my  knees,  took  me  by  the  hand 
and  said,  '  Lo,  God  is  here,  let  us  a<lore,' "  etc. 

According  to  the  record  he  "  finished  his  course  with 
joy  on  the  17th  of  May,  1810,  after  having  faithfully 
served  God  in  his  generation."*  "  He  was  a  man,"  it  is 
added,  "  truly  devoted  to  God,  and  in  death  witnessed  a 
good  confession."  "Peculiarities  he  certainly  had,  which 
>  Jackson's  Early  Methodist  Preachers,  iii,  87. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CaIURCH.       837 

sometimes  prevented  his  being  as  useful  as  otherwise  he 
would  have  been ;  but  they  were  such  as  consisted  in 
him  with  great  devotedness  to  and  deep  communion 
with  God."  These  "  peculiarities "  were  the  chief  im- 
pediments to  his  greater  usefulness  in  America.  The 
records  of  our  early  ministry  frequently  allude  to  them, 
but  always  with  the  acknowledgment  of  his  entii'e  de- 
votion to  God  and  the  Church.  His  mind  was  severe, 
his  will  unbending,  his  manners  peremptory ;  he  was 
disposed  to  exaggerated  anxieties,  and  to  fastidious  par- 
ticularities in  ecclesiastical  business,  and  in  the  enforce- 
ment of  discipline.  But  perhaps  some  of  these  defects 
were  not  without  advantage  to  his  peculiar  work  in  the 
colonies.  When  he  arrived  here  he  found  that  the  loose- 
ness and  irregularity  which  pervaded  the  colonial  life 
aifected  profoundly  the  young  Churches.  The  peculiar 
disciplinary  customs  of  Methodism,  which  had  been  so 
salutary  in  England,  were  but  incidental  to  the  move- 
ment here ;  the  itinerancy  itself  had  yet  but  little  method, 
notwithstanding  the  previous  endeavors  of  Asbury  to 
establish  it ;  there  were  many  Societies  without  Classes, 
and  other  irregularities  prevailed.  Rankin,  with  iron 
purpose,  reduced  all  to  order.  His  manner  of  doing  so 
appears  to  have  been  the  principal  cause  of  offense.  His 
chief  fault,  however,  was  that  he  could  not  appreciate 
Asbury ;  and  the  services  of  that  great  man  were  tram- 
meled and  impaired  throughout  his  administration.  As- 
bury, however,  bowed  quietly  to  his  authority,  and 
awaited  the  future.  He  wrote  to  Wesley  representing 
his  disabilities,  but  had  the  magnanimity  to  read  the  let- 
ter to  Rankin  before  it  was  sent.  Asbury's  time  came ; 
he  showed  his  superiority,  of  sense  and  character,  in  the 
trial,  that  dispersed  all  his  British  fellow-laborers ;  and 
came,  calm  and  strong,  out  of  that  ordeal,  recognized 
A— 22 


888  HISTORY    OF    THE 

forever  as  the  legitimate  leader  of  American  Methodism. 
Rankin's  correspondence  with  "Wesley  had  actually  in- 
duced the  latter  to  recall  Asbury  in  1775.  "Let  him 
come  home  without  delay,"  said  Wesley ;  and  a  month 
later  he  wrote,  "  I  shall  hope  to  see  him  at  the  Confer- 
ence." Providentially  Asbury  was  huiulreds  of  miles 
away  when  these  letters  arrived,  and  Rankin  could  not 
send  them  to  him.  Thus  was  saved  to  American  Meth- 
odism the  greatest  champion  its  history  records.  Wes- 
ley, soon  afterward,  had  reason  to  thank  God  for  the 
failure  of  his  order,  and  appointed  Asbury  "  general 
assist.int,"  and  at  last  bishop  of  the  denomination.* 

Martin  Rodda's  appointments,  during  the  two  or  three 
years  of  his  American  ministry,  were  in  Maryland. 
There  are  but  few  allusions  to  his  labors  in  the  cotempo- 
rary  documents.  While  on  his  last  circuit  (Kent)  his 
zealous  loyalty  led  him  to  disobey  Wesley's  prudent  ad- 
vice of  neutrality,  to  circulate  the  royal  proclamation, 
and  to  take  side  with  a  company  of  Tories  "  who  had  col- 
lected together  in  Delaware."*  To  his  imprudence  is  im- 
puted much  of  that  violent  persecution,  under  which  so 
many  of  his  l)rethren  suffered,  in  the  middle  states  during 
most  of  the  Revolutionary  War.^  An  apostate  Method- 
ist, Chauncey  Clowe,  formerly  of  some  note  in  one  of 
the  Societies,  had  formed  a  company  of  Royalists,  about 
three  hundred  strong,  who  endeavored  to  fight  their  way 
to  the  British  forces.  They  were  dispersed  after  some 
bloodshed,  and  their  leaders  brought  to  trial.  Clowe 
was  executed.  Though  disowned  by  the  Methodists, 
they  were  generally  held  responsible  for  his  movements. 
Wesley's  "  Address,''  Rodda's  imprudence,  and  the  royal 
proclivities   of  the   English    preachers   generally,   gave 

*  Dr.  Coggeshall'B  MS.  Life  of  Asbury,  v. 
■  Lee,  p.  62.  •  Lednum,  p.  198. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         339 

plausibility  to  tlie  public  suspicions.  Governor  Rodney, 
a  religiously  inclined  man,  but  not  a  Methodist,  endeav- 
ored to  defend  the  maligned  Church.  He  ascertained 
to  what  Christian  denominations  Clowe's  company  be- 
longed ;  and,  finding  that  but  two  of  them  were  Method- 
ists, commented  on  the  fact  before  the  court  in  a  manner 
that  made  the  persecutors  cower.'  But  the  popular  hos- 
tility could  not  be  controlled.  The  excited  rabble  con- 
demned all  Methodist  itinerants  as  Tories,  if  not  as  spies. 
The  arrest  and  abduction  of  Judge  White  by  the  light 
horse  patrol,  the  necessary  seclusion  of  Asbury,  the 
assaults  on  and  imprisonment  of  Hartley,  Wren,  Forrest, 
Garrettson,  and  others,  followed  soon  after.  Gatch  was 
mobbed  and  "  tarred ;"  Pedicord  was  attacked  and  seri- 
ously injured  on  the  highway ;  Rodda  had  to  fly  to  the 
British  fleet,  and  made  his  way  back  to  England,  where, 
after  a  brief  period  of  itinerant  labors,  he  appears  to  have 
retired  from  his  Methodist  brethren. 

We  have  followed  Shadford  through  his  successful  la- 
bors in  Vii-ginia,  down  to  his  final  interview  with  As- 
bury. He  had  been  threatened  with  imprisonment  in 
that  state,  and,  after  a  year  and  a  half  of  remarkable  use- 
fulness, he  left  it  for  the  north  in  the  depth  of  winter. 
On  his  route  he  was  lost  in  the  woods  at  night  when  the 
weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the  snow  a  foot  deep. 
He  could  discover  no  house ;  without  relief  he  must  per- 
ish. He  fell  upon  his  knees  and  prayed  for  deliverance. 
On  rising  he  stood  some  time  listening,  when  he  heard 
the  distant  barking  of  a  dog.  Following  the  sound,  he 
was  welcomed  at  the  house  of  a  plantation.  Thus  saved, 
he  hastened  into  Maryland;  but  there  also  he  was  re- 
quired to  renounce  his  loyalty,  or  be  in  peril  of  imprison- 
ment, if  not  of  death.  "  He  could  not  travel,"  he  says, 
'  Bangs's  Life  of  Garrettsou,  p.  64. 


840  HISTORY     OF     THE 

"  without  a  pass,  nor  have  a  pass  without  taking  the 
oaths."  It  was  now  that  he  had  his  last  interview  with 
Asbury  at  Judge  "White's,  immediately  before  the  ab- 
duction of  the  latter,  and  the  compulsory  seclusion  of  As- 
bury.  "  Let  us  have  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,"  he 
said  to  Asbury,  "that  the  Lord  may  direct  us;  for  we 
were  never  in  such  circumstances  as  now  since  we  were 
Methodist  preachers."  They  did  so,  and  in  the  evening 
Shadford  inquired  what  conclusion  he  had  reached.  "  I 
do  not  see  my  way  clear  to  go  to  England,"  responded 
the  steadfast  Asbury.  Shadford  replied,  "My  work  is 
lierc  done  ;  I  cannot  stay ;  it  is  impressed  on  my  mind 
that  I  ought  to  go  home,  as  strongly  as  it  was  at  first  to 
come  to  America."  "Then  one  of  us  must  be  uiidr-r  a 
delusion,"  rejoined  Asbury.  "  Not  so,"  said  Shadford  ; 
"  I  may  have  a  call  to  go,  and  you  to  stay."  "  I  be- 
lieve," adds  Shadfiird,  "  we  both  obeyed  the  call  of  Prov- 
idence. We  saw  we  must  part,  though  we  loved  as 
David  and  Jonathan.  And,  indeed,  these  times  made  us 
love  one  another  in  a  peculiar  manner.  O  how  glad 
were  we  to  meet  and  j>our  our  griefs  into  each  other's 
bo.-'omi"  Tie  oV)tained  from  the  military  authorities  a 
pass  for  his  route  northward,  and  set  out.  That  night, 
however,  he  was  attacked  by  an  armed  man  on  the  high- 
way, who  presented  a  musket  at  his  breast,  threatening 
his  life.  Tie  was  allowed  at  last  to  proceed,  but  found 
that  the  bridge  at  Chester  was  broken  down.  "  With 
our  saddle-bags,"  he  says,  "  upon  our  backs,  we  crept  on 
our  hands  and  knees  on  a  narrow  plank  to  that  part  of 
the  great  bridge  that  remained  standing,  and  got  our 
horses  over  the  next  morning.  Thus,  through  the 
mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  we  got  safe  into  Chester 
that  night,  and  the  next  night  into  Philadelphia.  Here 
we  met  three  or  four  of  our  preachers,  who,  like  our 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        341 

selves,  were  all  refugees.  I  continued  near  six  weeks 
before  I  got  a  passage,  and  then  embarked  for  Cork  in 
Ireland;  from  tbence  to  Wales,  and  then  crossed  the 
passage  to  Bristol," 

He  resumed  his  ministry  in  England,  and  labored  with 
his  characteristic  ardor  till  1791,  when,  after  twonty-three 
years  of  itinerant  life,  his  infirm  health  required  him  to 
take  a  supernumerary  relation  to  the  Conference.  He 
retired  to  Frome,  on  Congleton  Circuit,  but  there  contin- 
ued his  evangelical  work  as  he  had  strength,  preaching 
often,  "visiting  the  sick  constantly  and  at  all  hours,  and 
faithfully  discharging  the  duties  of  a  Class  Leader,  having 
three  large  Classes  under  his  care.  It  was  by  his  own 
diligent  exertions  that  these  Classes  had  been  raised ;  two 
of  them  met  in  his  own  house."^  In  these  later  years 
his  preaching  is  described  as  not  remarkable  for  any  in- 
tellectual superiority ;  but  "  in  unction  and  effectiveness  " 
he  is  said  to  "have  been  surpassed  by  few."  "Being 
intensely  devotional,  he  walked  with  God,  and  enjoyed 
in  rich  maturity  the  '  perfect  love  that  casteth  out  fear.' 
He  was  a  living  sacrifice.  He  'kept  back  no  part  of  the 
price,'  and  received  in  return  such  a  luminous  assurance 
of  the  divine  acceptance  of  the  oflTering  that  his  joy  was 
full.  He  literally  toiled  for  souls.  The  force  of  his  char- 
acter and  the  power  of  his  influence  was  great,  and  was 
felt  far  beyond  the  circle  of  the  Wesleyan  community. 
He  rose  early,  and  began  the  day  with  God.  Long  be- 
fore the  dawn,  parties  passing  to  their  work  often  heard 
him  engaged  in  wrestling  prayer." 

He  had,  till  the  end  of  his  life,  more  than  a  hundred 
persons  under  his  care  as  a  Class  Leader.  At  an  inspec- 
tion of  them  by  Jabez  Bunting  it  was  found  that  "  more 

*  Wes.  Meth.  in  the  Congleton  Circuit,  by  Eev.  J.  B.  Dyson.    Lon- 
don, 1856,  p.  109. 


842  HISTORY    OF    THE 

than  ninety  were  clear  in  their  Christian  experience,  and 
many  of  them  were  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  perfect 
love  of  God."  He  found  a  good  wife  in  his  latter  years, 
had  a  competent  livelihood,  assembled  his  neighboring 
brethren  of  the  ministry  every  Saturday  afternoon  at  his 
table,  and  enjoyed  an  enviable  old  age.  Nor  could  some 
years  of  blindness  interrupt  his  serene  happiness.  By 
a  surgical  operation  his  sight  was  restored.  "  You  will 
have  the  pleasure,"  said  his  surgeon,  "  of  seeing  to  use 
your  knife  and  fork  again."  "  DoctoV,"  replied  the  vet- 
eran, "  I  shall  have  a  greater  pleasure,  that  of  seeing  to 
read  my  Bible;"  and  the  first  use  of  his  restored  sight 
was  to  read  the  sacred  pages  through  three  deliglitful 
hours;  reading  and  weeping  with  inexpressible  joy. 

This  old  soldier  of  the  cross,  worn  out  with  infirmities 
and  labors  in  both  hemispheres,  had  at  last  a  triuinjihant 
end.  When  informed  V)y  his  physician  that  his  disease 
would  be  fatal,  "he  broke  out  in  rapture,  exclaiming, 
Glory  to  God !"  "  While  he  lay  in  view  of  an  eternal 
world,  and  was  asked  if  all  was  clear  before  him,  he  re- 
plied, 'I  bless  God  it  is;'  and  added,  'Victory,  victory, 
through  the  blood  of  the  Lamb !'  Two  friends,  who 
were  anxious  for  his  recovery,  calle<l  upon  hitn,  and 
when  they  inquired  how  he  was,  he  replied,  '  I  am  going 
to  my  Father's  house,  and  find  religion  to  be  an  angel  in 
death."  His  last  words  were,  "  I'll  praise !  I'll  praise! 
I'll  praise  !"  He  fell  asleep  on  the  11  th  of  March,  1816, 
in  the  78th  year  of  age. 

George  Sha<lford  excelled  any  of  Wesley's  other 
American  missionaries  in  immediate  usefulness.  His 
ardor  kindled  the  Societies  with  zeal.  He  was  the  chief 
'*  revivalist"  of  the  times  —  a  man  of  tender  feelings, 
warmest  iiiety,  and  wonderful  unction  in  the  pulpit. 
Asbury  and  all   his  fellow-itinerants  loved  him.      The 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        S43 

elder  Methodists  of  America  long  delighted  to  recall  his 
memory  as  precious.  His  preaching  displayed  no  great 
intellectual  ability,  but  was  pathetic  and  consolatory,  and 
abounded  in  scriptural  phraseology  and  familiar  illustra- 
tions. He  was  very  effective  in  prayer.  A  Wesleyan 
preacher,  who  knew  him  in  his  old  age,  records  that  dur- 
ing the  period  of  his  own  ministry  in  Frome,  where 
Shadford  resided,  "I  often  experienced  the  efficacy  of 
his  prayers  in  the  soul-converting  influence  it  brought 
down  upon  my  discourses.  Being  held  in  general  esteem 
throughout  the  town,  he  had  extensive  access  to  the 
dwellings  both  of  the  rich  and  the  poor,  and  in  his  visits 
his  constant  aim  was  to  do  good.  His  patriarchal  ap- 
pearance, his  great  simplicity  and  kindness  of  manner, 
and  above  all,  his  unmistakable  piety,  always  caused  his 
advice  and  admonitions  to  be  listened  to  with  respect. 
Many  sought  counsel  from  his  lips,  and  an  interest  in  his 
prayers."^ 

•  Biog.  Tracts,  Ne.  14,  p.  15.    London. 


344  HISTORY  or  the 


CHAPTER  IV. 

LABORS     AND     TRIALS     DURING     THE     REVOLU- 
TIONARY    WAR. 

Wattere  itinerating  in  Maryland  and  Virginia  —  Sanctiflcation  —  Wat- 
tcrs  locates  —  Freeborn  Garrettson — llis  early  Life  —  His  Conversion 

—  lie  emancipates  his  Slaves  —  Goes  about  doing  good  —  Begins  to 
preach  —  Ezekiel  Cooper  —  Garrettaon  itinerating  in  Maryland,  Vir- 
ginia, and  Delaware  —  Scenes  in  his  Ministry  —  Hartley  preaching 
through  the  windows  of  Talbot  Jail  —  Garruttaon  attacked  on  the 
Highway  —  Caleb  Beyer —  Garrettson  mobbed  at  Dover — Pioneering 

—  He  is  cast  into  Priaon  —  His  Snccess. 

Young  Watteks  was  abroad,  abundant  in  labors  and 
patient  in  trials,  during  this  troubled  period.  He  went 
from  the  Philadelphia  Conference  of  1775  to  the  Fred- 
erick Circuit,  Md.  It  extended  over  a  region  which 
might  etill  be  called  the  frontier.  The  roads  were  <lifti- 
cult,  the  settlements  very  scattered,  the  habitati(>n.s 
mostly  log-cabins,  without  conveniences  for  the  sojourn- 
er. "Waiters  went  to  proclaim  his  message  through  this 
wilderness,  desponding  often  on  his  route,  but  he  was 
refreshed  at  last  by  unexpected  success.  About  mid- 
summer a  spiritual  awakening  appeared  in  almost  every 
appointment  of  his  circuit.  He  records  that  it  was. 
affecting  to  see  how  the  people  turned  out,  by  day  and 
by  night,  from  their  secluded  homes  with  "  earnest  looks 
and  many  tears,"  inquiring  "about  the  things  of  the 
kingdom."  Every  week  he  was  cheered  with  conver- 
sions— several  often  at  a  single  meeting.  His  own  earn- 
est spirit  was  kindled  with  the  extending  mterest,  and 
reconciled  to  all  the  labors  and  privations  of  his  hard 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.       845 

field.  "I  often  preached,  prayed,  and  exhorted,"  he 
says,  "  till  I  was  so  exhausted  that  I  was  scarcely  able  to 
stand.  This  flame  not  only  spread  among  sinners,  but 
among  professors  of  religion  also,  and  even  reached  my 
poor  heart,  so  that  I  could  not  but  bless  and  praise  God's 
holy  name  that  though  I  was  deprived  of  many  conven- 
iences, yet  he  made  all  up  unto  me,  and  I  was  contented 
to  sleep  in  cabins,  to  eat  a  dry  morsel,  and  frequently  to 
retire  into  the  woods  to  read,  to  meditate,  and  pray. 
My  Lord  and  Master  had  not  on  earth  a  place  to  lay  his 
head,  and  shall  not  I  be  thankful  for  the  meanest  place  ? 
He  was  hated,  spit  upon,  condemned,  crucified  ;  and  shall 
such  a  worm  as  I  look  for  anything  better  ?" 

The  changes  of  preachers  from  circuit  to  circuit  were 
still  semi-annual.  After  six  months  unremitted  labors, 
during  which  scores  of  converts  were  gathered  into  the 
Church,  Watters  departed  for  Fairfax  Circuit,  Va., 
where,  notwithstanding  the  prevalent  political  and  mili- 
tary agitations,  his  poAverful  ministrations  bore  down  all 
before  him  over  at  least  two  thirds  of  his  circuit,  a  flame 
of  "  revival  kindling  and  spreading  from  appointment  to 
appointment."  "  In  less  than  a  quarter,"  he  writes,  "  we 
had  the  greatest  revival  I  had  ever  seen  in  any  place. 
If  ever  I  was  enabled  to  labor  for  the  salvation  of  souls, 
it  was  now."  There  were  some  "very  astonishing  in- 
stances of  the  mighty  power  of  God  in  the  conversion  of 
respectable  persons ;"  among  whom  he  mentions,  as  one 
of  his  trophies,  Nelson  Reed,  destined  to  be  a  standard- 
bearer  in  the  itinerant  ministry.  "So  gloriously,"  he 
adds,  "  did  the  word  of  the  Lord  prevail,  that  though 
there  was  preaching  but  once  in  three  weeks  in  the  same 
place,"  he  being  the  only  preacher  on  the  circuit,  "  yet  in 
five  or  six  months  there  were  added  to  the  Society  up- 
ward of  one  hundred  souls.     Though  wars  and  rumors 


346  HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  wars  were  all  around  us,  we  were  permitted  to  dwell 
in  peace,  while  every  man  sat  under  his  own  vine  and 
under  his  own  fig-tree,  none  daring  to  make  him  afraid." 

Tlio  next  year  he  brought  from  the  Conference  a  fel- 
low-laborer to  this  field,  and  enlarged  it  to  a  four-weeks' 
circuit,  lie  extended  his  travels  into  Frederick  and 
Berkeley  Counties,  breaking  up  new  ground,  and  preach- 
ing with  success  where  a  Methodist  itinerant  had  never 
been  heard.  "  Tliis  tour,"  he  says,  "  through  diflerent 
neighborhoods  and  among  all  sorts  of  people,  was  much 
lilessed  to  my  soul.  I  had  many  poweriul  seasons,  and 
labored  day  and  night,  while  the  people  came  from  all 
quarters  to  hear  the  words  of  eternal  life."  lie  seldom 
preaclR'd  in  any  place  without  "  seals  to  his  ministry." 
On  Berkeley  Circuit  especially,  "  the  work  increased  on 
every  hand."  He  closed  the  year  among  the  cabins  of 
Frederick  Circuit,  jtraying  and  studying  in  the  woods, 
preaching  in  the  barns,  and  rejoicing  with  "  a  simple- 
hearted,  loving  people,"  "  happy  in  being  of  one  heart 
'and  one  mind  —  with  few  disputes,"  and  "few  falling 
oft* —  the  most  growing  in  grace." 

The  next  year  he  set  off  from  the  Conference,  in  com- 
pany with  .several  preachers,  for  the  noted  Brunswick 
Circuit  in  Southern  Virginia.  His  companions  on  the 
route  were  destined  to  different  and  difficult  fields  be- 
tween the  James  and  Roanoke  Rivers.  They  rode 
forth  with  the  consciousness  of  the  responsibility  and 
the  sure  success  of  apostles.  "  Their  conversation  was," 
he  writes,  "  such  as  became  the  Gospel,  edifying  and 
strengthening,  while  most  of  us  were  entire  strangers 
to  all  we  met.  We  all  appeared  to  breathe  the  same 
spirit,  and  I  verily  believe  our  sole  desire,  in  leaving 
our  little  all,  was  that  we  might  be  instrumental,  in  the 
hands  of  God,  in   bringing   lost   sinners   into   the   fold 


n 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        347 

of  Christ."  On  the  route  he  heard  M'Roberts,  the 
friend  of  Jarratt,  preach  a  genuinely  evangelical  sermon. 
"  It  was  the  first  example,"  he  says,  of  such  a  discourse 
heard  by  him  from  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  En- 
gland. M'Roberts,  impatient  of  the  secular,  not  to  say 
profane  spirit  of  his  clerical  associates,  su]Dsequently  left 
the  Church  and  became  a  Presbyterian  pastor,  but  never 
lost  his  evangelical  zeal  and  usefulness.  Jarratt's  home 
was  on  Watters's  circuit,  and  the  zealous  rector  received 
the  itinerant  as  a  brother,  beloved  not  only  in  the  faith, 
but  in  its  apostleship,  esteeming  him  worthy  of  more 
than  ordinary  honor  for  the  humility  and  hardships  of 
his  labors.  "  Weak,  and  hardly  able  to  sit  on  my  horse," 
writes  Watters,  "  I  at  last  came  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Jar- 
ratt, with  whom  I  staid  a  night,  as  I  did  every  time  I 
came  round  my  circuit.  His  barn,  well  fitted  up  with 
seats  and  a  pulpit,  was  one  of  our  preaching  places,  and 
I  found  him  very  friendly  and  attentive  to  me  while  I 
staid  in  these  parts."  It  required  six  weeks,  with  almost 
daily  preaching,  to  pass  round  the  circuit.  There  were 
already  large  societies  in  almost  every  neighborhood,  the 
fruits  of  the  ministrations  of  Jarratt,  Williams,  Asbury, 
and  other  laborers.  Watters  had  two  colleagues,  but 
he  says  his  "  hands  were  fall." 

He  expected  greater  success  than  he  realized  on  this 
lively  circuit,  but  he  records,  "  The  Lord  evidently  owned 
us,  in  every  neighborhood,  both  in  and  out  of  our  Socie- 
ties. We  labored  to  the  utmost  of  our  abilities  in  the 
cause  of  our  glorious  Master,  and  daily  found  his  serv- 
ice perfect  freedom."  The  military  troubles  of  the  times 
reached  the  evangelists  even  in  this  remote  region.  At 
a  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Maybery's  Chapel  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1777,  attended  by  all  the  Circuit  and  many  Local 
Preachers,  as  well  as  a  large  assembly  of  the  people,  they 


348  HISTORY    OF    THE 

were  interrupted  by  a  magistrate  as  suspicious  men  from 
beyond  tlie  limits  of  the  state.  Watters,  liowever,  and 
one  of  his  brethren,  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  as  proof 
of  their  loyalty,  and  the  threatening  storm  passed  away. 
"Our  preaching,"  he  says,  "commenced  immediately. 
The  Lord  was  present  and  gave  utterance,  and  the  Word 
was  as  'a  hammer  and  fire,  that  break  the  rock  in  pieces.' 
The  little  seeming  ojiposition  roused  the  minds  of  some 
of  our  friends,  and  several  .appeared  to  possess  a  good 
degree  of  the  spirit  of  martyrs.  The  God  of  Daniel  was 
in  our  midst,  and  many,  on  both  days  of  our  meeting, 
shotited  al<Mid  the  jiraises  of  our  Iminanuel.  We  jiarted 
filled  with  love,  and  more  than  ever  determined  to  follow 
the  Lord  fully." 

He  spent  some  time  on  the  Pittsylvania  Circuit,  and 
the  next  year  traveled  with  remarkable  success  that  of 
Sussex.  While  |)assing  the  second  time  around  this  cir- 
cuit his  word  had  unusual  power — "  the  windows  of 
heaven  were  opened,  and  the  Lord  poured  out  such  a 
blessing  as  our  hearts  were  not  .able  to  contain."  Some 
of  the  rustic  asseniblies  were  overwhelmed  with  the 
truth.  "  We  were  so  filled,"  he  says  on  one  occasion, 
"  with  the  love  of  God,  and  overawed  with  his  divine 
m.ajesty,  that  we  lay  prostrate  at  his  footstool,  scarcely 
able  to  rise  from  our  knees  for  a  considerable  time,  while 
there  were  strong  cries  and  tears  from  every  ])art  of  the 
house  for  that  perfect  love  which  caeteth  out  fear.''  Jar- 
ratt  and  the  devoted  Methodist  itinerants  had  preached 
faithfully,  in  these  parts  of  Virginia,  Paul's  doctrine  of 
"  perfection,"  John's  doctrine  of  "  perfect  love ;"  and 
Watters  records  that  he  had  never  met  before  with  so 
many  living  examples  of  it  as  in  the  societies  of  this  cir- 
cuit. He  caught  from  them  the  same  spirit.  "  O  my 
God  !  when  shall  I  awake  with  thy  likeness,  and  be  filled 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        349 

■with  thy  fullness !"  was  his  constant  prayer.  A  new  epoch 
here  occurred  in  his  personal  history.  He  had  been  re- 
markable for  his  devotion,  the  transparent  purity  and  sim- 
plicity of  his  religious  life,  and  the  benignity  of  his  temper ; 
but  he  had  seen,  especially  by  the  aid  of  Wesley's  writings, 
that  thei-e  were  "  deep  things  of  God"  which  he  had  not 
fathomed,  and  he  consecrated  himself  to  an  absolute  devo- 
tion. In  a  little  circle  of  praying  friends,  "  I  was,"  he  says, 
"  in  an  agony  of  prayer,  and  my  heart  was  ready  to  burst 
with  longing  after  the  blessing,  expecting  every  moment 
to  hear  the  kind  release,  '  go  in  peace,  sin  no  more.'  My 
cry  was  incessant.  '  Father,  glorify  thy  name,  pour  out 
thy  Spirit.' "  Then  "followed  a  deep  and  awful  sense  of 
the  Divine  presence,  an  inward  calm,  which  words  cannot 
express.  I  was  in  my  own  eyes  less  than  the  least  of 
God's  people,  and  knew  that  all  was  of  grace."  But  he 
dare  not  yet  "confidently  conclude"  that  his  "soul  was 
renewed  in  love."  Subsequently  he  "  found  that  it  is  by 
faith  we  stand  in  every  state  of  grace,"  that  sauctifica- 
tion,  like  justification,  is  by  faith.  Walking  with  a  friend, 
they  retired  into  a  solitary  place,  and  on  their  knees  most 
"  earnestly  desired  not  to  rise  till  every  doubt  were  re- 
moved." There,  in  the  calm  solitude,  he  was  "  most 
graciously  and  powerfully  blessed  and  filled  with  confi- 
dence and  peace."  Powerful  as  his  earnest  ministry  had 
hitherto  been,  it  now  took  a  new  tone;  its  energy,  if 
more  calm,  was  more  eflTective.  The  "most  glorious 
work"  that  ever  he  "had  seen  was  on  this  circuit  among 
believers.  Scores  professed  to  be  sanctified  to  the  Lord  ;" 
he  "  could  not  be  satisfied  without  pressing  upon  Chris- 
tians their  privilege"  in  this  respect,  and  he  records  that 
wherever  "they  were  exhorted  to  go  on  to  perfection 
the  Word  was  blessed." 

His  next  circuit  was  Fairfax,  where,  he  says,  the  truth 


350  HISTORY    OF    THE 

prevailed  mightily,  notwithstanding  the  war;  he  remarks, 
indeed,  that  this  was  generally  the  case  throughout  the 
country.  "It  is  not  more  astonishing  than  true,  that  the 
work  continued  to  spread  in  all  those  parts  where  we 
Itad  preachers  to  labor,  and  I  doubt  whether,  at  any  time 
before  or  since,  it  has  been  more  genuine  among  us  than 
during  the  war."  This  is  an  anomalous  fact,  but  it  has 
its  explanation  in  that  providential  relation  of  the  Meth- 
odistic  movement  to  the  nation:U  destiny  which  has 
already  been  discussed. 

The  sacramental  controversy  menaced  the  infant 
Church  about  this  time  with  perilous  if  not  fatal  results. 
Watters,  as  we  shall  hereafter  see,  had  important  con- 
nections with  that  disturbance;  he  trembled  for  its  prob- 
able conscipiencos.  Heing  the  first  and  most  ])rominent 
native  itinerant,  his  influence  among  the  disputants  was 
unequaled,  and  he  became  the  chief  conciliator  between 
the  opi>osing  parties.  "  I  tiually,"  he  says,  "  came  to  the 
determination  to  endeavor,  by  every  means  in  my  power, 
to  prevent  a  division ;  or,  if  that  could  not  be  done,  to 
stand  in  the  gap  as  long  as  possible."  He  was  success- 
ful, and  thus  averted  a  disaster  which  might,  at  this 
early  period  in  the  history  of  the  denomination,  have 
proved  ruinous. 

In  1778  and  1779  he  was  on  Baltimore  Circuit.  "I 
never,"  he  writes,  "  traveled  a  circuit  with  more  satisfac- 
tion." "There  was  a  general  movement  and  quickening 
among  the  members  of  the  Societies.  The  ungodly,  in 
many  places,  stood  astonished,  and  could  not  but  ac- 
knowledge that  the  arm  of  the  Lord  was  revealed." 
Sanctification  was  now  his  almost  habitual  theme,  and 
many  were  the  witnesses  of  its  power  throughout  his 
extensive  field  of  labor.  iTears  later  he  says:  "Many,  I 
am  fully  persuaded,  to  this  day  recollect  those  divine 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        351 

Beasons  with  grateful  hearts,  and  have  ever  since  felt 
their  happy  effects." 

Down  to  the  end  of  1783  William  Watters  continued 
to  travel  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  with  a  zeal  that 
knew  no  abatement  and  a  success  hardly  excelled  by  any 
evangelist  of  the  denomination — often  in  new  circuits 
in  mountainous  regions,  his  lodgings  in  log-cabins,  his 
chapels  barns,  his  health  broken  so  much  that,  three  or 
four  times,  his  brethren  expected  to  bury  him,  a  martyr 
to  his  work.  He  was  one  of  the  few  itinerants  who 
had  families.  In  1783  he  was  compelled  to  locate,  but 
he  still  labored  indefatigably,  one  of  his  regular  ap- 
pointments being  at  least  forty  miles  distant  from  his 
home;  another,  thirty.  "I  have  never,"  he  wrote, 
"  since  I  knew  the  Lord,  seen  anything  in  tliis  world 
worth  living  for  an  hour,  but  to  pi'epare,  and  assist  oth- 
ers to  prepare,  for  that  glorious  kingdom  which  shall  be 
revealed  at  the  appearing  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ."  Not  only  many,  but  most  of  the  itinerants  of 
those  ear'iy  times  had,  sooner  or  later,  to  locate,  on  ac- 
count of  their  worn-out  health  or  domestic  embarrass- 
ments ;  but  they  continued  to  perform  more  laborious 
service  in  the  ministry  than  most  of  their  itinerant  suc- 
cessors, and  the  early  outspread  of  Methodism  through 
the  land  is  scarcely  less  attributable  to  their  zeal  than  to 
that  of  the  "  regular  "  Preachers.  Hardly  had  Watters 
located  when  he  was  cheered  by  news  of  the  arrival  of 
Coke,  with  authority  from  Wesley  to  organize  the  Church. 
The  first  native  itinerant,  he  had  served  faithfully  through 
most  of  the  forming  jjeriod  of  the  young  denomination : 
he  was  now  to  see  it  take  organic  and  permanent  form ; 
he  will  reappear  on  the  scene,  contributing  important 
aid  to  the  new  development  which  was. about  to  attend 
the  cause  for  which  he  had  labored  and  suffered  so  much. 


352  HISTORY    OF    THE 

It  was  in  our  i)resent  period  that  Freeborn  Garrettson 
began  tliat  memorable  ministerial  career,  which  was  to 
extend  over  more  than  half  a  century,  and  to  leave  his- 
torical and  ineffaceable  traces  on  the  Church,  from  North 
Carolina  to  Nova  Scotia.  lie  was  of  an  influential  fam- 
ily of  Maryland,  a  descendant  of  the  first  settlers  of  that 
province ;  the  possessor  of  lands  and  slaves ;  a  young 
man  of  firm  but  amiable  character,  and  of  strict  early 
education  by  parents  who  were  faithful  members  of  the 
English  Church,  Before  he  was  ten  years  old  he  was 
inclined  to  religious  meditation,  "  feeling  that  he  needed 
something"  which  lie  had  never  yet  attained,  but  "knew 
not  what  it  was,"  for  he  "  had  no  one  to  take  him 
by  the  hand  and  lead  him  into  the  narrow  j)ath,"  The 
"Spirit  often  strove  with  him,"  and  "melted  him  into 
tenderness ;"  but  none  around  him,  not  even  his  parish 
pastor,  appeared  competent  to  solve  the  jtrobiems  of  his 
anxious  conscience,  or  teach  him  the  true  nature  of  re- 
ligion. Strawbridge,  as  we  have  seen,  was  abroad  in 
Maryland,  and  Garrettson  met  him  and  other  itinerants. 
Their  message  was,  at  first,  a  mystery  to  him ;  yet  he 
believed  "  they  preached  the  truth,"  and  he  "  dared  not 
to  join  with  the  multitude  in  persecuting  them." 

All  Methodists,  laymen  as  well  as  preachers,  were 
"  witnesses  "  for  the  truth  in  those  times.  "  One  day, 
as  I  was  riding  home,"  says  Garrettson,  "  I  met  a  young 
man  who  had  been  hearing  the  Methodists,  and  had  got 
liis  heart  touched  under  the  word.  He  stopped  me  in 
the  road,  and  began  to  talk  so  sweetly  about  Jesus  and 
his  people,  and  recommended  him  to  me  in  such  a  win- 
ning manner,  that  I  was  deeply  convinced  there  was  a 
reality  in  that  religion,  and  that  it  was  time  for  me  to 
think  seriously  on  the  subject."  He  now  betook  himself 
to  good  books,  lived  a  retired  life,  "  read,  prayed,  wept 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        353 

till  after  midnight,"  and  often  withdrew  to  the  woods  for 
prayer  and  meditation.  Asbury  passed  through  the 
neighborhood,  and  the  awakened  youth  heard  him  with 
delight,  following  him  from  place  to  place,  "  fully  per- 
suaded that  he  was  a  servant  of  God,"  and  surprised  to 
hear  him  preach  in  a  manner  that  seemed  to  imply  a 
knowledge  of  the  inmost  troubles  of  his  own  soul.  Wat- 
ters,  Webster,  Rollins,  and  other  evangelists  crossed  his 
path ;  "  revivals "  broke  out ;  persecutions  followed. 
Garrettpon's  father  became  alarmed  for  him,,  and  the 
young  man's  "name  was  already  cast  out  as  evil," 
though  he  had  made  no  open  avowal  of  Methodism.  lie 
attempted  to  satisfy  his  conscience  by  living  a  "  respect- 
able "  life,  "bending  his  mind  to  the  improvement  of  his 
property,  and  serving  God  in  a  private  manner."  He 
now  attended  the  parish  church  regularly,  fasted  once  a 
Aveek,  prayed  in  secret,  rebuked  profanity  among  his 
neighbors.  "I  was  so  fast  set  in  my  way,"  he  says, 
"  that  I  thought  I  should  certainly  go  to  heaven ;  and  if 
at  any  time  overtaken  in  sin  I  would  endeavor  to  mend 
my  pace,  and  pray  more  frequently."  But  he  had  to  ad- 
mit that  "  often,"  especially  under  Methodist  preaching, 
his  "  foundation  would  shake."  George  Shadford's  pow- 
erful ministration  shook  it  thoroughly.  A  Methodist 
exhorter,  casually  conversing  with  him,  shattered  it. 
Under  the  preaching  of  Daniel  Ruff,  he  was  "  so  op- 
pressed that  he  could  scarcely  support  his  burden  ;"  and 
riding  homeward  through  a  lonely  wood,  agonized  by 
the  sense  of  his  sinfulness,  and  of  the  necessity  of  regen- 
eration, he  dismounted  and  began  to  pray.  But  his 
prayer  was  for  forbearance  that  he  might  yet  delay  till  a 
more  convenient  season.  Resuming  his  ride,  he  was 
again  arrested  with  an  overpowering  consciousness  that 
"  now  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation." 
A— 23 


854  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"  I  threw,"  he  says,  "  the  reins  of  my  bridle  on  the 
horse'8  neck,  and,  putting  my  hands  together,  cried  out, 
'  Lord,  I  submit !'  I  was  less  than  nothing  in  my  own 
sight,  and  was  now,  for  the  first  time,  reconciled  to  the 
justice  of  God.  The  enmity  of  my  heart  was  slain,  the 
plan  of  salvation  was  open  to  me.  I  saw  a  beauty  in 
the  perfections  of  the  Deity,  and  felt  that  power  of  faith 
and  love  that  I  had  been  a  stranger  to.  My  soul  was  so 
exceeding  happy  that  I  seemed  as  if  I  wanted  to  take 
wing  and  fly  away  to  heaven." 

On  reaching  home  he  called  his  family  together  for 
))rayer,  and  not  many  d.ay8  after,  while  about  to  lead 
their  devotions,  he  gave  one  of  the  best  proofs  of  the 
genuineness  of  his  new  faith.  He  declared  to  all  his 
slaves  their  freedom,  convinced  that  "  it  is  not  right  to 
keep  our  fellow-creatures  in  bondage."  "  Till  then,"  he 
adds,  "  I  had  never  susj)ectod  that  slavekcoping  is  wrong ; 
I  had  never  read  a  book  on  the  subject,  nor  been  told  so 
by  any  one.  It  was  God,  not  man,  that  taught  me  the 
imi»ropriety  of  hoMing  slaves,  and  I  shall  never  be  able 
to  j)raise  him  enough  for  it.  My  very  heart  has  bled 
since  that  time  for  slaveholders,  especially  those  who 
make  a  profession  of  religion ;  for  I  believe  it  to  be  a 
crving  sin."  It  was  •while  standing  in  the  midst  of  his 
family  and  slaves,  with  a  hymn  book  in  his  hand,  begin- 
ning their  family  worship,  that  he  pronounced  his  serv- 
ants free.  They  all  knelt  before  their  common  God  as 
his  common  children.  The  devout  young  man,  following 
thus  a  conscientious  intuition  of  his  purified  mind,  expe- 
rienced at  once  the  inexpressible  consolation  of  such 
well-doing ;  "  a  divine  sweetness,"  he  says,  "  ran  through 
my  whole  frame."  "  Had  I  the  tongue  of  an  angel  I 
could  not  describe  what  I  felt." 

And  now,  like  most  Methodists  of  that  day,  he  "  went 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUKCH.        355 

about  doing  good,"  with  no  definite  idea  of  preaching, 
but  "  bearing  his  testimony "  for  what  God  had  done  for 
him.  At  the  first  house  he  visited  its  head  was  enraged 
and  repelled  him ;  "  but,"  he  says,  "  the  Lord  gave  me 
one  or  two  of  his  children ;"  at  the  second  the  "  master 
was  brought  to  cry  on  his  knees  for  mercy  before  the 
Lord."  The  third  was  nearly  twenty  miles  distant,  but 
he  reached  it  before  night,  and  related  his  "  experience ;" 
"  after  prayer,"  he  writes,  "  the  neighbors  were  called 
in ;  I  was  obliged,  for  the  first  time,  to  open  my  mouth 
by  way  of  exhortation  ;  and  the  Lord  filled  it,  and  sent 
his  arrows  to  the  hearts  of  three  sinners,  one  of  whom 
slept  very  little  that  night,  and  another  followed  me 
nearly  sixteen  miles  the  next  day." 

He  held  meetings  at  his  own  house,  at  that  of  his 
brother,  and  at  others;  he  thus  became  an  Exhorter 
even  before  he  had  formally  joined  the  Church.  He 
formed  classes.  Rodda  took  him  at  last  out  upon  his 
circuit,  and  he  thus  undesignedly  became  a  preacher. 

Alarmed  at  the  responsibility  of  his  new  labors,  and 
reluctant  to  become  an  itinerant,  he  mounted  his  horse  to 
escape  fifty  miles  to  his  home.  A  pious  man  met  him 
on  his  way,  and  warned  him  to  turn  back ;  he  went  on, 
however,  but  at  home  opportunities  of  religious  labor 
continually  multiplied  around  him ;  he  held  meetings,  ex- 
horted, was  attacked  by  ruffians,  smitten  on  the  face, 
mobbed,  and  summoned  to  drill  as  a  soldier.  When  car- 
ried before  a  military  officer  he  told  his  "  experience," 
and  sat  on  his  horse  "  exhorting  with  tears  "  a  thousand 
people;  the  court  marshal  dismissed  him  with  a  fine  of 
twelve  dollars  and  a  half  a  year,  but  he  was  never  called 
upon  to  pay  it.  He  soon  had  appointments  in  every 
direction.  Daniel  Ruff  called  him  out  to  a  circuit. 
He  went,  never  again  to  turn  back.     Thus  began,  in  the 


356  HISTORY    OF    THE 

year  of  his  conversion,  1 775,  his  ministerial  life.  Leaving 
Ruff,  he  went  out  to  form  a  new  circuit.  "  I  was  wan- 
dering along,"  he  says,  "  in  search  of  an  opening  for  the 
word,  in  deep  thought  and  prayer,  that  uiy  way  might 
be  prosperous."  When  opposite  a  gate  he  received  "  a 
sudden  impression;  'turn  in,  this  is  the  place  where  you 
are  to  begin.' "  The  master  of  the  house  was  an  officer 
of  rank,  and,  it  being  muster  day,  marched  his  troops 
to  the  front  of  the  house  to  hear  the  Itinerant;  "many 
tears  were  shed,  and  several  of  them  were  converted, 
one  of  whom  has  since  become  a  preacher."  The  latter 
was  the  son  of  the  officer,  a  youth  of  thirteen  years,  who 
afterward  became  one  of  the  most  able  and  eminent 
champions  of  the  denomination.' 

At  the  Conference  of  1776  Garrettson  was  received  on 
trial,  and  appointed  to  Frederick  Circuit.  Three  differ- 
ent times  he  turned  his  horse  toward  his  home,  from  his 
new  field,  desponding  under  his  diffidence  and  the  hard- 
ships of  his  work  ;  but  prayer  in  the  solitary  woods,  ex- 
traordinary impressions  of  his  discourses  awakening  his 
bearers,  or  providential  impediments,  deterred  him,  and 
at  last  confirmed  him  in  his  lifelong  mission  of  labor  and 
saciifice.  A  score  were  sometimes  converted  and  added 
to  the  feeble  Societies  of  the  circuit  at  a  single  meeting. 
In  six  months  he  went  to  Fairfax  Circuit.  He  extended 
his  travels  far  up  the  Potomac  to  what  was  called  New 
Virginia,  where  his  labors  were  greatly  successful. 
"  Glory  to  God !"  he  wrote  many  years  later,  "  he  enabled 
me  to  travel  largely  through  that  country,  to  preach  one, 
two,  three,  and  sometimes  four  sermons  a  day.  Tlie  last 
sermon  I  preached  there  was  a  time  not  soon  to  be  for- 
gotten. A  large  congregation  seemed  to  drink  in  every 
word  ;  so  much  of  the  divine  presence  was  felt  that  I  con- 
'  lie  was  the  Eev.  Ezekiel  Cooper. 


-J 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCjU.        357 

tinued  nearly  three  hours,  and  then  the  people  hung 
around  me  in  such  manner  that  I  could  scarcely  get  from 
them,  begging  me  with  tears  not  to  leave  them." 

He  was  sent,  the  next  year,  to  the  famous  Brunswick 
Circuit,  with  Walters  ;  there  of  course  he  had  triumph- 
ant times,  large  congregations,  overwhelming  effects  of 
the  word,  meetings  held  in  barns,  or  under  the  trees, 
which  reminded  him  of  the  Pentecostal  assembly  of  the 
Apostles.  He  penetrated  southward  into  North  Caro- 
lina. He  failed  not  to  inculcate  his  opinions  of  slavery, 
and  preached  often  to  the  slaves,  weeping  with  them  in 
their  wrongs,  rejoicing  with  them  in  their  spiritual  con- 
solations. He  was  menaced  by  persecutors,  interrupted 
sometimes  in  his  sermons,  threatened  by  armed  men,  and 
one  of  his  friends  was  shot  (but  not  mortally)  for  enter- 
taining him;  "but,"  he  says,  "the  consolations  afforded 
me  were  an  ample  compensation  for  all  the  difficulties  I 
met  with  wandering  up  and  down."  It  was  amid  these 
scenes  that,  like  his  colleague  Watters,  he  attained  the 
higher  experience  of  that  "  perfect  love  which  casts  out 
fear." 

His  next  circuit  was  Kent,  Md.,  where  he  was  exposed 
to  those  political  and  military  hostilities  which,  as  we 
have  seen,  prevailed  against  the  Methodists,  chiefly  from 
the  imprudence  of  Rodda  and  the  treason  of  Clowe. 
One  of  his  colleagues.  Hartley,  was  imprisoned,  the  oth- 
ers were  dispersed,  and  he  was  left  alone  to  bear  the 
brunt  of  the  persecution.  Hartley,  a  Virginian,  after 
preaching  six  months,  had  been  received  by  the  Confer- 
ence in  1776,  and  sent  to  Kent  Circuit;  he  subsequently 
labored  in  Baltimore,  and  in  1777  returned  to  Kent, 
where,  in  1778,  he  was  seized  and  imprisoned  in  Talbot 
jail ;  but  he  continued  to  preach  through  the  windows  of 
his  prison.    The  people  gathered  to  hear  him  from  ten 


858  HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  fifteen  miles  around  ;  many  were  converted  by  his 
word,  and  his  enemies  were  happy  at  last  to  get  rid  Oi 
him  by  allowing  him  to  resume  his  travels.  Soon  after, 
the  magistrate  who  had  committed  him  was  seized  with 
fatal  sickness,  and  sending  for  him,  said:  ""When  I  sent 
you  to  jail  I  was  fighting  against  God,  and  now  I  am 
about  to  leave  the  world ;  pray  for  me !"  His  family  were 
called  in,  and  he  declared  to  his  wife,  "  This  is  a  servant 
of  God  ;  when  I  die,  I  request  he  may  preach  at  my  fu- 
neral. You  need  not  think  I  have  not  ray  senses ;  this 
is  the  true  faith."  lie  then  gave  Hartley  charge  of  his 
family,  and  desired  them  to  embrace  Methodism  as  true 
Christianity.* 

"  God  enabled  me  to  go  forward,"  writes  Garrettson, 
"  through  goo<l  and  through  evil  report ;  he  stood  by 
me,  and  I  went  on  without  fear."  His  friends  in  Kent 
entreated  him  not  to  hazard  his  life  by  traveling  at  large; 
but  he  "traveled  through  the  country  preaching  once, 
twice,  thrice,  and  sometimes  four  sermons  a  day  to  list- 
ening multitudes  bathed  in  tears."  "I  shall  not  soon 
forget,"  he  adds,  "the  24th  of  June,  1778.  O  what  a 
wringing  of  hands  among  sinners,  and  crying  for  mercy  ! 
God's  people  praising  him  from  a  sense  of  his  divine 
presence.  O  how  did  my  heart  rejoice  in  God  my  Sav- 
iour !  I  went  through  Cecil  County,  and  part  of  Dela- 
ware  State.     A  precious  flame   Avas   kindled   in  many 

»  Garretteon'B  Life,  p.  102.  In  a  note  Garrettson  Bays  that  Hartley 
■was  "  a  flear  good  man,  and  an  excellent  preacher.  The  rulers  laid 
hands  on  hiiu  and  confined  him  in  Talbot  jail ;  but  he  preached  power- 
fully through  the  window.  The  blessed  God  owned  his  word,  and  ho 
was  instrumental  in  raising  a  large  Society.  He  was  confined  a  long 
time,  till  finally  they  thought  he  might  as  well  preach  without  as  with- 
in jail.  Shortly  after  he  was  set  at  liberty  he  married  a  pions  young 
lady  and  located.  He  did  not  live  many  years,  but  while  he  did  live  he 
was  very  useful,  and  adorned  his  Christian  and  ministerial  character 
He  died  in  the  Lord,  and  went  to  glory." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        359 

heai-ts,  and  many  were  brought  to  inquire  what  they 
should  do  to  be  saved.  I  visited  Mr.  Asbury,  at  Judge 
White's,  and  found  him  very  unwell.  I  had  a  sweet  op- 
portunity of  preaching  at  his  place  of  confinement. 
After  some  agreeable  conversation  with  him  I  went  on 
to  Maryland,  and  had  much  liberty  in  preaching  to  our 
persecuted  friends  in  Queen  Anne." 

The  next  day  he  was  near  receiving  the  honors  of  mar- 
tyrdom. Being  unmolested  in  the  congregation  he 
deemed  himself  safe,  notwithstanding  he  had  been 
threatened  privately  with  imprisonment.  But  on  riding 
away  he  was  met  by  an  opposer,  formerly  a  judge  of 
the  county,  who  struck  him  on  the  head  with  a  bludgeon. 
The  itinerant  attempted  to  escape,  but  was  overtaken  by 
the  swifter  horse  of  his  assailant,  and,  struck  again,  fell 
senseless  to  the  ground.  He  was  carried  to  a  neighbor- 
ing house  and  bled  by  a  person,  who  passing  by,  provi- 
dentially had  a  lancet.  It  was  supposed  he  could  live 
but  a  few  minutes  ;  "  the  heavens,"  he  writes,  "  seemed 
in  a  very  glorious  manner  opened,  and  by  faith  I  saw  my 
Redeemer  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Father 
pleading  my  cause.  I  was  so  happy  that  I  could  scarcely 
contain  myself."  The  ruffian  who  assailed  him  seemed 
to  relent,  and  sat  by  his  bedside  listening  to  his  exhorta- 
tions, and  offered  to  carry  him  in  his  own  carriage 
wherever  he  wished  to  go.  The  itinerant  was  cited, 
however,  before  a  magistrate,  who  boisterously  charged 
him  with  violating  the  laws.  "Be  assured,"  replied 
Garrettson,  "  this  matter  will  be  brought  to  light  in  an 
awful  eternity."  The  pen  dropped  from  the  magistrate's 
hand,  and  the  preacher  was  allowed  to  retire.  Taken 
into  a  carriage  by  the  friendly  passenger  who  had  bled 
him,  he  was  safely  borne  away,  and  that  night  was  again 
preaching  in  a  private  house,  though  his  bed  was  his 


360  HISTORY    OF    THE 

pulpit.  He  suffered  very  little  opposition  in  the  county 
afterward.  The  next  day  he  rode  many  miles  and 
preached  twice,  his  "  face  bruised,  scarred,  and  bedewed 
with  tears ;"  his  hearers  were  deeply  affected,  and  his 
own  soul  was  triumpliant  with  grateful  joy  that  he  could 
suffer  for  Christ.  "  It  seemed,"  he  writes,  "  as  if  I  could 
have  died  for  him."  In  a  few  days  he  returned  courage- 
ously to  the  place  of  his  sufferings,  and  preached  to  a 
numerous  and  deeply  affected  concourse  of  people.  lie 
had  conquered  the  field.* 

lie  afterward  traversed  the  State  of  Delaware,  preach- 
ing with  remarkable  power.  Again  he  returned  to 
Maryland,  "  and  the  work  of  the  Lord  went  on  prosper- 
ously." He  foiunled  societies,  introduced  Metluxlism 
into  m.iny  new  fields,  and  such  was  the  peculiar  energy 
an<l  patlios  with  which  he  preached,  that  his  journal  is 
almost  a  continuous  record  of  "melted  congregations," 
*'  powerful  awakenings,"  (in  which  not  a  few  hearers  were 
smitten  down  to  the  ground,)  conquered  opposers,  and 
pr<^>longed  meetings,  from  which  the  eager  multitude 
couM  hardly  be  persuaded  to  retire.  He  was  the  first 
Methodist  preacher  who  visited  Kent  Island,  and  laid 
the  fotmdation  of  the  denomination  there.  In  Mispillian 
he  preached  under  a  venerable  tree,  which  is  still  stand- 
ing, and  some  of  his  converts  there  afterward  founded 
the   Society   of  Barratt's   Chapel.       Caleb    Boyer    was 

•  In  1S09  Mr.  Gairettson  wm  visiting  his  oM  friends  in  this  re(non, 
when  a  near  rulation  of  Mr.  B.,  who  beat  him,  was  the  principal  vestry- 
man in  the  Episcopal  Church  ;  and  to  make  some  atonement  for  the 
treatment  he  received  in  177S,  an  almost  nnheard-of  favor  for  that  coun- 
try was  conferred  upon  him,  in  an  invitation  to  preach  in  the  old 
church  at  Church  Hill.  He  accepted  the  invitation,  and  seldom,  if  over 
before,  was  the  church  so  crowded  with  Church  f  )lk3  and  Methodists, 
white  and  black ;  and  it  was  a  movinij:  time.  A  similar  favor  was  ex- 
tended to  Dr.  Cuke  in  17^4,  who  preached  in  this  church  by  invitatioo 
of  the  vestry. — Lednum,  p.  215. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         361 

awakened  under  one  of  these  sermons,  and  became  "  a 
great  preacher  among  the  Methodists,"*  "  the  St.  Paul " 
of  the  denomination,  distinguished  by  the  acumen  and 
force  of  his  argumentative  defense  of  the  Gospel.  Gar- 
rettson  preached  at  Boyer's  father's  house,  and  formed 
there  a  Society  in  IVYS,  which  is  still  represented  at  Bau- 
ning's  Chapel,  below  Dover. 

He  began  his  labors  in  Dover  amid  a  storm  of  opposi- 
tion in  the  latter  part  of  1778.  He  had  been  invited 
thither  by  a  gentleman  who  had  been  profited  by  his 
ministry  elsewhere.  Hardly  had  he  dismounted  from 
his  horse  when  the  mob  gathered,  crying  out,  "  He  is  a 
Tory;  he  is  one  of  Clowe's  men;  hang  him,  hang  him;" 
while  others  shouted  in  his  defense.  Hundreds  of  clam- 
orous voices  resounded  around  him.  "  I  was  in  a  fliir 
way,"  he  says,  "  to  be  torn  in  pieces."  He  was  rescued, 
however,  by  some  friendly  gentlemen,  one  of  whom, 
taking  him  by  the  hand  and  leading  him  to  the  steps  of 
the  academy,  bade  him  preach,  and  declared  he  would 
stand  by  him.  The  evangelist  cried  aloud  to  the  multi- 
tude. He  was  heard  through  most  of  the  town.  The 
crowd  wept.  One  person  sitting  in  a  window,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  distant,  was  alarmed  by  the  truth,  and  afterward 
converted.  More  than  twenty  of  his  hearers  were 
awakened.  The  ringleader  of  the  mob  repented  and 
betook  himself  to  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  and  "  never 
again  persecuted  the  children  Of  God."  Garrettson 
preached  repeatedly  in  the  town,  formed  a  Society,  and 
"  the  Lord  was  with  them,  spreading  his  word  and  con- 
verting many  souls."  Dr.  M'Gaw,  the  English  clergy- 
man of  Dover,  now  took  side  with  the  Methodists  and 
promoted  their  success.  "  The  prejudices  of  the  people 
began  to  fall  awa};  amazingly,"  says  the  itinerant,  "  and 
*  Ledjium. 


362  HISTORY    OF    THE 

hundreds  were   enabled  to   rejoice  in  the  kingdom  of 
grace." 

lie  went  into  Sussex  County,  and  at  Broad  Creek 
preached  to  hundreds  in  a  wood.  Tliey  were  a  notori- 
ously vicious  people :  "  swearers,  fighters,  drunkards, 
horseracers,  gamblers,  and  dancers."  Tliey  now  wept 
around  him,  as  he  declared,  "  I  saw  the  dead,  both  sm.iU 
and  great,  stand  before  God,"  etc.  More  than  thirty 
"  were  powerfully  awakened,"  all  of  whom  were  joined 
in  a  Society.  One  of  his  hearers  afterward  attempted  to 
shoot  him,  coming  into  the  audience  with  a  pistol  for  the 
purpose,  but  was  prevented.  Tlie  whole  neighborhood 
was  reformed,  and  Methodism  effectually  planted  there. 
A  hearer  from  Salisbury  was  converted,  and  opened  the 
way  for  his  preaching  in  that  town.  Garrettson  was 
threatened  by  leading  townsmen  with  imprisonment.  The 
sheriff  came  to  seize  him,  but  was  confounded  an<l  left 
him.  Methodism  was  thus  founded  in  Salisbury.  While 
preai'hiug  at  ]>ro.id  Creek,  an  aged  and  devout  couple 
who  had  heard  Whitefield,  heard  him  and  invited  him  to 
their  house  at  Quantico.  "  Many  years  ago,"  they  said 
to  him,  "we  heard  Mr.  Whitefield  preach;  and  until 
we  heard  you,  we  had  not  he.ard  a  Gospel  sermon  for 
twenty  years.  The  first  time  we  heard  you  preach  we 
knew  it  was  the  truth  ;  but  we  only  had  a  little  spark 
left.  Yesterday  we  heard  you  again,  and  the  little 
spark  was  blown  up  to  a  coal ;  and,  glory  to  God  !  to- 
day the  coal  is  blown  up  to  a  flame.  We  cannot  hide 
ourselves  any  longer  from  you;  our  house  and  hearts 
are  open  to  receive  you  and  the  blessed  word  you 
preach."  He  went,  and  a  Society  was  formed,  with 
the  venerable  couple   at  its  head,*  the  first  Methodist 

•  Their  naine  waa  Byder.    "  There  have  been  many  valuable  Methodists 
of  the  Ryder  family  about  Quantico  and  Salisbun-,"  saya  Lednum,  p.  219. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.        863 

Church  in  Somerset  County,  Md.     A  chapel  was  soon 
erected. 

In  April,  1779,  "I  was  led,"  he  says,  "still  further 
into  the  wilderness."  It  was  his  delight  to  pioneer  the 
Gospel  into  new  and  desolate  places.  "Although  in 
those  new  places  I  had  none,"  he  writes,  "  to  converse 
with,  at  first,  who  knew  the  Lord,  yet  Jesus  was  blessed 
company  to  me  in  my  retirement.  Often  the  wilderness 
was  my  closet,  where  I  had  many  sweet  hours  in  com- 
munion with  God."  "We  next  trace  him  to  "  a  place  called 
the  Sound,  near  the  seashore,  in  the  region  of  Cypress 
Swamp,  Sussex  County,  Del."  "  The  work  of  the  Lord 
broke  out  there,"  he  says ;  "  the  people  wept  on  every 
side,  and  after  three  hours'  service  they  seemed  fixed  to 
the  spot."  Many  walked  ten  or  twelve  miles  to  hear 
him.  He  soon  formed  a  Society  of  thirty  converts.  He 
encountered  some  opposition  here  also.  A  hostile  inter- 
loper interrupted  his  sermon  to  discuss  his  theology,  but 
became  convinced  of  his  own  ignorance,  and  asked  par- 
don of  the  preacher  for  the  disturbance.  "  Being  a  man 
of  some  note,  it  proved  a  blessing  to  the  people."  An 
influential  citizen  set  up  a  "  reading  meeting  "  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  itinerant,  but  "  the  power  of  God  reached  his 
heart,  so  that  he  gave  it  up  and  joined  the  Society." 
The  Churchmen  of  the  region  sent  for  one  of  their  dis- 
tant clergymen  to  .come  and  preach  down  the  new  ex- 
citement. He  arrived,  preached  once,  and  then  meeting 
with  Garrettson  on  the  highway,  was  soon  convinced 
that  he  was  fighting  against  God,  and  went  home,  determ- 
ined never  again  to  oppose  the  Methodists.  The  influ- 
ence of  Methodism  was  most  beneficent  in  all  this  desti- 
tute region  of  Cypress  Swamp.  The  people  had  been 
incredibly  demoralized.  Garrettson  met  with  many 
who  knew  not  the  most  elementary  truths  of  religion, 


36-i  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Accosting  one  of  them,  he  asked  him  if  he  "  knew  the 
Lord  J^'^us  Clirist  ?"  "  Sir,"  w&s  the  reply,  "  I  know 
not  where  the  gentleman  lives."  Supposing  he  was  mis- 
unders^tood,  Garrettson  repeated  the  question,  and  was 
answered,  "  I  know  not  the  man."  The  best  Methodist 
chronicler  of  these  regions  says  that  in  some  parts  of  the 
Peninsula  the  people  had  no  religion  whatever,^  Gar- 
rettson, in  a  later  note  to  his  Journal,  alludes  to  the 
great  improvement  of  all  this  j)art  of  the  country  by 
the  introduction  of  Methodism.  "When  he  first  went 
among  them,  the  people,  their  land  and  houses,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  were  poor.  What  was  worst  of 
all,  they  were  destitute  of  even  the  form  of  godliness. 
]SIany  of  them  preferred  fishing  and  hunting  to  culti- 
vating the  land.  After  the  Gospel  came  among  them 
religion  spread  rapidly,  and  they  became  industrious 
and  happy ;  left  off  gambling,  tilled  their  Land,  built 
houses,  and  attended  to  their  spiritual  interests,  so  that 
he  says,  'After  a  few  years,  in  retracing  my  foot- 
steps in  this  country,  I  found  that  my  younger  breth- 
ren in  the  ministry  who  had  succeeded  me  had  been 
blessed  in  their  labors,  and  everything  appeared  to  wear 
a  different  aspect.  Experience  had  taught  many  that 
there  is  nothing  like  the  Gospel  in  its  purity  to  meliorate 
both  the  temporal  and  sjdritual  condition  of  man ;  and 
my  prayer  is  that  it  may  find  its  way  throughout  the 
whole  world  to  the  destruction  of  idolatry  and  infidelity.'*" 
The  Peninsula  became  a  "  garden  rtf  Methodism."  Gar- 
rettson's  congregations,  imder  the  trees,  were  a  thousand 
and  even  fifteen  hundred  strong.  His  pathetic  eloquence 
and  genial  spirit,  his  tact  and  unction  swayed  the  whole 
region.  "  Glory  to  God  !"  he  exclaims,  "  I  preached  in 
a  variety  of  places  through  this  wilderness,  and  many 
*  Lednam,  p.  227. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        365 

were  convinced  and  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  They  built  a  church,  and  the  Lord  raised  up 
several  able  speakers  among  them.  There  was  an  amaz- 
ing change  both  in  the  disposition  and  manners  of  the 
people.  The  wilderness  and  solitary  places  began  to 
bud  and  blossom  as  the  rose,  and  many  hearts  did  leap 
for  joy.  Hundreds  who  were  asleep  in  the  arms  of  the 
wicked  one  awoke,  and  were  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion 
with  their  faces  thitherward." 

He  was  soon  away  to  other  parts  of  Delaware,  almost 
invariably  encountering  hostility  at  first,  but  always  con- 
quering it.  In  one  place  thirty  persons  were  awakened, 
and  were  following  him  to  his  next  appointment,  when 
an  enraged  persecutor  attacked  him  and  presented  a 
musket  to  his  breast,  but  was  overpowered  by  his 
friends ;  the  assailant  was  soon  after  a  weeping  pen- 
itent, and  joined  the  Methodists.  He  returned  to  Sal- 
isbury to  learn  that  a  mob  awaited  him  to  send  him 
to  jail.  It  consisted  of  the  first  people  of  the  county. 
The  previous  night  they  had  attacked  the  house  where 
he  usually  lodged,  and  not  finding  him,  seized  its  head 
and  dragged  him  down  the  chamber  stairs,  and  along 
the  streets,  injuring  him  so  seriously  that  he  would  prob- 
ably have  perished  had  not  a  magistrate  rescued  him. 
Garrettson's  brethren  insisted  on  his  immediate  depart- 
ure. "  I  have  come,"  he  replied,  "  to  preach  my  Mas- 
ter's Gospel,  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  trust  him  with  body 
and  soul.  Many  came  out  to  hear  me;  I  understood 
that  the  mob  sent  one  of  their  company  to  give  informa- 
tion of  the  most  convenient  time  to  take  me.  While  I 
was  declaring,  '  The  Lord  knoweth  how  to  deliver  the 
godly  out  of  temptation,  and  reserve  the  unjust  unto  the 
day  of  judgment  to  be  punished,'  the  heart  of  the  spy, 
who  sat  close  by  me,  was  touched,  and  the  tears  ran 


366  HISTORY    OF   THE 

plentifully  down  his  face.  After  service  he  returned  to 
his  company,  and  told  them  I  had  preached  the  truth, 
and  if  they  laid  a  hand  on  me  he  would  put  the  law  in 
force  against  them.  They  withdrew  to  their  homes 
without  making  the  slightest  attempt  upon  me.  O  who 
would  not  confide  in  so  good  a  God  !  After  our  blessed 
meeting  was  over,  I  rode  three  miles  and  had  a  pleasant 
time  with  a  few  of  my  friends.  Glory  be  to  God  !  he  is 
carrying  on  a  gracious  work  about  this  place.  All  this 
week  I  spent  in  preaching  and  visiting  the  young  Socie- 
ties." 

He  now  projected  an  "  inroad  "  into  a  neglected  part 
of  Delaware,  whither  he  had  never  gone,  and  where  the 
demoralization,  the  simplicity,  and  the  rudeness  of  the 
rustic  population  presented  not  a  few  difliculties  as  well 
as  incentives  to  his  mission.  Much  of  the  population 
had  few  if  any  just  iileas  of  religion.  The  preaching  of 
the  times  had  failed  to  instruct  them,  and  Methodism 
was  like  a  new  Gospel  to  them.  Their  boisterous  vices 
found,  at  first,  amusement  in  its  services,  but  their  simple 
minds  soon  awoke  under  its  illumination.  Many  were 
the  odd  rencounters  of  the  itinerant  in  this  tour ;  illus- 
trations at  once  of  the  moral  condition  of  the  times,  and 
the  power  of  the  truth  when  proclaimed  with  plaiimess 
and  courage.  "  I  had  appointed,"  he  writes,  "  a  friend, 
who  had  given  me  an  invitation  to  Lewistown,  to  meet 
me  and  conduct  me  through  the  country,  so  that  num- 
bers had  knowledge  of  my  intention  to  pass  that  way. 
All  along  the  road  many  were  standing  at  their  doors 
and  windows  gazing,  and  I  could  hear  some  of  them  say 
as  I  passed,  '  There  he  is ;'  *  O  he  is  like  any  other  man.' 
I  rode  about  thirty  miles,  and  got  to  my  appointment 
about  three ;  about  four  o'clock  I  began,  and,  shortly 
after  I  gave  out  the  text,  the   brother  of  the  man  in 


L_.. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        367 

whose  house  I  was  to  preach  came  to  the  door  with  a 
gun  and  a  drum,  and  several  other  implements,  and  after 
beating  his  old  drum  a  while,  he  took  the  gun,  and  was 
dodging  about  as  though  he  was  taking  aim  to  shoot  me. 
This  greatly  terrified  the  women,  so  that  there  was 
nothing  but  confusion.  I  then  stoj^ped  and  withdrew  to 
a  private  room.  Soon  after,  the  town  squire  and  several 
other  magistrates  came,  and  among  the  rest  a  minister. 
The  squire  commanded  him  to  depart  immediately  to  his 
own  house  or  behave  himself,  otherwise  he  would  send 
him  to  jail.  We  now  had  peace,  and  I  found  great  free- 
dom to  finish  my  sermon.  I  have  no  doubt  but  the  Lord 
began  this  work.  The  minister  told  some  of  the  people 
afterward  that  I  held  out  nineteen  errors.  The  squire 
told  me  the  court-house  was  at  my  service,  and  I  should 
be  welcome  to  his  house.  Wednesday  my  enemy,  set 
on  by  a  few  others,  came  into  the  court-house  while  I 
was  preaching,  not  with  a  gun  and  drum,  but  with  fire, 
which  he  put  in  the  chimney,  and  then  began  to  heap  on 
wood,  though  the  day  was  exceedingly  warm:  finding 
that  this  did  not  disturb  me,  he  brought  in  a  bell  and 
rang  it  loudly  through  the  house.  I  stopped,  and  in- 
quired if  any  would  open  a  large  piivate  room.  Many 
were  offered,  and  I  withdrew  and  finished  my  sermon  at 
the  house  of  a  kind  widow  woman.  In  spite  of  all  the 
opposition,  the  word  found  way  to  the  hearts  of  the 
hearers ;  and  though  severely  tempted  of  the  devil,  and 
persecuted  by  many  of  his  servants,  my  heart  was  with 
the  Lord,  and  many  were  the  sweet  moments  I  had  in 
secret." 

He  kept  his  ground,  and  on  the  next  Sabbath  preached 
to  a  crowd  in  the  court-house ;  but  the  bell  over  his  head 
was  rung  violently  to  annoimce  service  at  the  neighbor- 
ing church,  where  he  was  lustily  assailed  by  the  preacher; 


368  HISTORY    OF    THE 

"but,"  he  writes,  "the  more  they  preached  and  ppoke 
against  me,  the  more  earnestly  did  the  people  search 
their  Bibles  to  know  whether  these  things  were  so." 
"  I  had,"  he  continues,  "  an  appointment  a  lew  miles  from 
the  town  by  the  side  of  a  river,  and  some  declared  that 
if  I  went  there  they  would  drown  me.  I  went  and  found 
a  large  concourse  of  people,  and  preached  with  much 
freedom,  but  no  man  assaulted  me.  I  had  five  miles  to 
my  afternoon's  appointment,  and  when  I  had  got  two 
miles  on  my  way  I  looked  behind  and  saw  a  man  dressed 
like  a  soldier,  riding  full  speed,  with  a  great  club  in  his 
hand.  I  now  found  it  necessary  to  exercise  my  faith. 
When  he  came  up  to  me  he  reached  out  his  hand,  saying, 
'  Mr.  Garrcttson,  how  do  you  do?  I  heard  you  preach, 
and  believe  your  doctrine  to  be  true.  I  heard  you  was 
to  be  abused  at  the  river  to-day,  and  I  equij)ped  myself 
as  you  see  me,  and  have  rode  twenty  miles  in  your  de- 
fense, and  will  go  with  you  if  it  is  a  thousand  miles,  and 
see  who  dare  lay  a  hand  upon  you."  Friend,  said  I, 
the  Scripture  tells  us  that  vengeance  Vjclongs  to  God, 
and  not  to  man.  *  Very  true,  sir,'  said  he,  '  but  I  think  I 
should  be  justifi.ible  in  so  glorious  a  cause.'"  The  hon- 
est man  found  no  occasion  to  use  his  bludgeon ;  the  itin- 
erant had  more  effectual  weapons.  lie  won  the  victory, 
and  went  on  his  way  j>revailing  everywhere.  "  I  trav- 
eled and  preached  all  through  the  forest,"  he  says,  "  and 
the  Lord  enlarged  my  heart,  and  gave  me  many  precious 
souls,  for  numbers  were  brought  to  inquire  after  religion." 
After  spending  some  fifteen  months  on  the  Peninsula, 
at  the  end  of  which  nearly  thirteen  hundred  members  of 
Society  were  retunied  to  the  Conference  from  Delaware 
and  Kent  County,  Garrettson  passed  northward.  He 
had  remained  so  long  in  Delaware  and  Maryland  in  order 
to  supply  the  place  of  Asbury,  who  was  still  in  confine- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         369 

ment  at  the  mansion  of  Judge  White.  In  1780  he  was 
appointed,  with  two  colleagues,  to  New  Jersey.  He  there 
preached  from  ten  to  twelve  sermons  a  week.  "  I  bless 
God,"  he  wrote,  "  for  the  prosperous  journey  he  gave  me." 
In  the  autumn  we  find  him  again  on  the  Peninsula  found- 
ing the  denomination  in  Dorchester  County.  A  young 
lady  of  the  county,  sister-in-law  to  Bassett,  of  Bohemia 
Manor,  had  been  converted  while  visiting  his  family,  and 
on  her  return  had  borne  good  and  effectual  testimony,  for 
her  new  faith,  among  her  kindred.  Henry  Airey,  a  gentle- 
man of  influence  and  a  magistrate,  was  awakened  by  her 
conversation,  and  further  led  into  a  religious  life  by  his 
friend  Judge  White.  The  way  was  thus  opened  for  the 
establishment  of  Methodism  in  the  county.  Garrettson 
visited  Airey's  home  and  preached  with  great  effect.  The 
lady  of  the  house  and  many  of  the  black  servants  were 
converted.  After  spending  several  days  with  them  he 
resumed  his  journey,  accompanied  by  Airey,  but  was 
attacked  on  the  highway  by  a  mob,  who  beat  his  horse, 
and  clamorously  assailed  him  with  blasjihemies.  After 
dark  they  bore  him  before  a  magistrate,  who  ordered 
him  to  prison.  Airey  and  some  of  his  friends  started  on 
before  toward  the  jail.  As  his  assailants  were  conduct- 
ing Garrettson  along  the  highway,  a  sudden  flash  of 
lightning  dispersed  them  and  he  was  left  alone.  "  I  was 
reminded,"  he  says,  "  of  that  place  of  Scripture  where 
our  Lord's  enemies  fell  to  the  ground,  and  then  this  por- 
tion of  Scripture  came  to  me,  '  Stand  still  and  see  the 
salvation  of  God.'  It  was  a  very  dark,  cloudy  night, 
and  had  rained  a  little.  I  sat  on  my  horse  alone,  and 
though  I  called  several  times  there  was  no  answer.  I 
went  on,  but  had  not  got  far  before  I  met  my  friend 
Airey  returning  to  look  for  me.  He  had  accompanied 
me  throughout  the  whole  of  this  affair.  We  rode  on, 
A-24 


370  HISTOKY    OF    THE 

talking  of  the  goodness  of  God,  till  we  came  to  a  little 
cottage  by  tlie  roadside,  where  we  found  two  of  my 
guards  almost  frightened  out  of  their  wits.  I  told  them 
if  I  was  to  go  to  jail  that  night  we  ought  to  be  on  our 
way,  for  it  was  getting  late.  '  O  no  !'  said  one  of  them, 
'  let  us  stay  until  the  morning.'  My  friend  and  I  rode 
on,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  we  had  a  beautiful  clear 
night.  We  had  not  gone  far  before  the  company  col- 
lected again,  from  whence  I  know  not.  However  they 
appeared  to  be  amazingly  intimidated,  and  the  leader 
rode  by  the  side  of  me,  and  said,  '  Sir,  do  you  tliink  the 
alfair  happened  on  our  account?'  I  told  him  that  I 
would  have  him  judge  for  himself;  reminding  him  of 
the  awfulncss  of  the  day  of  judgment,  and  the  necessity 
tliere  was  of  preparing  to  meet  the  Judge  of  the  whole 
earth.  One  of  the  company  swore  an  oath,  and  another 
immediately  reproved  him,  saying,  '  How  can  you  swear 
at  such  a  time  as  this  ?'  At  length  the  company  stopped, 
and  one  said,  *  We  had  bettor  give  him  up  for  the  pres- 
ent ;'  so  they  turned  their  horses  and  went  back.  My 
friend  and  I  jiursued  our  way.  True  it  is,  '  The  wicked 
are  like  the  troubled  sea,  whose  waters  cast  up  mire  and 
dirt.'  We  had  not  gone  far  before  they  pursued  us  again, 
and  said,  '  We  cannot  give  him  up.'  They  accompanied 
us  a  few  minutes,  again  left  us,  and  we  saw  no  more  of 
them  that  night."  The  next  day,  Sunday,  they  reap- 
peared, twenty  in  number,  headed  by  an  aged  man  "  with 
locks  as  white  as  a  sheet,"  and  a  pistol  in  his  hand.  They 
seized  the  evangelist  while  preaching.  lie  was  borne 
away  to  Cambridge  jail,  where,  during  a  fortnight,  "  I 
had,"  he  says,  "  a  dirty  floor  for  my  bed,  my  saddle-bags 
for  my  pillow,  and  two  large  windows  open,  with  a 
cold  east  wind  blowing  upon  me  ;  but  I  had  great  conso- 
lation in  my  Lord,  and  could  say,  'Thy  will  be  done.' 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH.        371 

During  my  confinement  here  I  was  much  drawn  out  in 
prayer,   reading,    writing,   and   meditation.     The   Lord 
was  remarkably  good  to  me,  so  that  I  experienced  a 
prison  to  be  like  a  paradise ;  and  I  had  a  heart  to  pray 
for  ray  worst  enemies.     My  soul  was  so   exceedingly 
happy  I  scarcely  knew  how  my  days  and  nights  passed 
away.     The  Bible  was  never  sweeter  to  me.     I  never  had 
a  greater  love  to  God's  dear  children.     I  never  saw  myseli 
more  unworthy.     I  never  saw  a  gi-eater  beauty  in  the 
cross  of  Christ ;  for  I  thought  I  could,  if  required,  go 
cheerfully  to  the  stake  in  so  good  a  cause.     Sweet  mo- 
ments I  had  with  my  dear  friends  ,who  came  to  the  prison 
window.      Many,    both    acquaintances    and    strangers, 
came  to  visit  me  from  far  and  near,  and  I  really  believe 
I  never  was  the  means  of  doing  more  good  for  the  time ; 
for  the  country  seemed  to  be  much  alarmed,  and  the 
Methodists  among  whom  I  had  labored,  to  whom  I  had 
written  many  epistles,  were  much  stirred  up  to  pray  for 
me.     The  word  of  the  Lord  spread   through   all   that 
country,  and  hundreds  both  white  and  black  have  expe- 
rienced   the   love   of  Jesus.     Since  that   time   I  have 
preached  to  more  than  three  thousand  people  in  one  con- 
gregation, not  far  from  the  place  where  !•  was  impris- 
oned, and  many  of  my  worst  enemies  have  bowed  to  the 
scepter  of  our  sovereign  Lord."     In  fine,  this   county 
presented,  at  first,  the  most  formidable  resistance  to  Meth- 
odism of  any  in  the  state,  but  was  the  most  completely 
conquered.     After  about  two  years'  labors,  it  reported 
nearly   eight  hundred  Methodists;    "and,"  says  a  late 
authority,  "Methodism  has  long  been  honored  here; 
there  are  but  few  professors  of  religion  that  belong  to 
any  other  than  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  "'^ 
Li  1780  Garrettson  labored  on  Baltimore  Circuit  with 
^  Lednum,  p.  253. 


372  HISTORY    OF    THE 

his  usual  success.  In  the  same  year  he  made  au  excur- 
pion  to  Little  York  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there,  amid  a 
mixed  pojnilation  of  Germans  and  English,  with  a  greater 
variety  of  religious  sects  than  he  had  ever  found  else- 
where, and  no  small  amount  of  disputation  and  hostility, 
he  j>reached  for  two  months,  with  extraordinary  results, 
in  more  than  twenty  places,  and  more  than  three  hundred 
people  were  awakened.  The  next  year  he  was  sent  into 
Virginia,  where  Jarratt  received  him  cordially.  The 
country  was  ravaged  with  war;  the  army  of  Cornwallis 
had  entered  it ;  and  the  sacramental  controversy,  among 
the  Methodists,  added  not  a  little  to  the  disturbance  of 
the  Churclies.  Garrettson  preached  within  the  sound 
of  the  guns  of  Yorktown,  At  Maybery's  Chapel  he  ad- 
dressed two  thousand  people,  not  forgetting  to  remon- 
strate with  them  about  slavery;  he  formed  new  circuits, 
hastened  about  among  the  old  circuits,  and,  wherever  he 
went,  spread  a  quickening  sensation  among  the  suffering 
Societies.  In  1T81  he  traveled  about  five  thousand  miles, 
preached  about  five  hundred  sermons,  visited  most  of 
the  circuits  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  opened 
one  new  circuit,  "in  which  the  Lord  began  a  blessed 
work,  so  that  many,  both  rich  and  poor,  joined  the 
Society." 

During  the  remainder  of  our  present  period  be  trav- 
eled and  preached  incessantly  in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland, 
and  Delaware,  and  found  the  Churches  prospering  in  the 
hard-fought  fields  which  he  had  won,  through  so  many 
persecutions,  within  the  preceding  six  or  eight  years.  At 
Dover,  the  scene  of  one  of  his  severest  trials,  he  rejoiced, 
in  1783,  over  a  successful  Church,  Bassett  and  his  family 
being  now  among  its  chief  supporters.  "  Surely,"  he 
•wrote,  "  God  is  among  this  peojjle.  The  last  Sabbath  I 
preached  here  the  Lord  in  mercy  laid  his  hand  upon  one  of 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        373 

the  greatest  persecutors  in  the  town.  Finding  no  rest, 
he  cried  mightily  to  God,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
converted,  and  his  brother's  wife ;  they  are  now  happy  in 
religion,  going  on  hand  in  hand  with  the  brethren ;  and 
he  is  resohitely  determined  on  building  a  brick  chapel. 
Shall  we  not  give  the  glory  to  God,  who  can  change  the 
hearts  of  lion-like  men  and  women  in  so  short  a  time? 
God  has  done  and  is  doing  great  things  for  the  people  in 
this  town.  •  I  visited  Mrs.  Bassett,  who  has  been  a  long 
time  under  the  afflicting  hand  of  divine  Providence.  I 
think  her  one  of  the  happiest  women  I  have  met  with. 
I  believe  her  to  be  a  living  witness  of  sanctification ;  her 
soul  seems  to  be  continually  wrapped  in  a  flame  of  love. 
Several  of  this  family  are  happy  in  the  love  of  God ;  four 
of  whom  enjoy  that  degree  of  it  which  casts  out  fear. 
Surely  God  has  a  Church  in  this  house." 

In  the  autumn  of  1783  he  was  about  to  depart  to  the 
Carolinas,  determined  to  push  the  triumphs  of  the  Gos- 
pel to  the  furthest  South ;  but  he  was  suddenly  arrested 
by  the  news  of  Coke's  arrival,  and  the  important  events 
which  were  immediately  to  follow.  Coke  soon  reached 
him,  at  the  house  of  Bassett,  in  Dover,  and  says :  "  Here 
[  met  with  an  excellent  young  man,  Freeborn  Garrett- 
son.  He  seems  to  be  all  meekness  and  love,  and  yet  all 
activity.  He  makes  me  quite  ashamed,  for  he  invariably 
rises  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  not  only  he,  but  several 
others  of  the  preachers.  Him  we  sent  off,  like  an  arrow, 
from  north  to  south,  directing  him  to  send  messengers 
to  the  right  and  left,  and  to  gather  all  the  preachers  to 
gather  at  Baltimore  on  Christmas  eve."^ 
8  Coke's  Journals,  pp.  15, 16. 


374  HISTORY    OF    THE 


CEAPTER  Y. 

FITRTHER    REVIEW    OF   THE    PERIOD    OF   THE    REV- 
OLUTIONARY   WAR. 

Philip  Gatch  itinerating  —  John  Cooper's  Trials  — Gatch  and  Parson 
. Kain  —  His  Kenconnttrs  on  Frederick  Circuit  —  He  is  "  Tarred "  by  a 
Mob  —  Escapes  Conspirators  —  His  Courage — On  Hanover  Circuit  — 
Jarratt  —  Trials  on  Sussex  Circuit  —  He  Locates  —  His  continued  Use- 
fulness—  Emancipates  his  Slaves  —  Slmplicilj  of  the  Primitive  Min- 
utes—  Benjamin  Abbott  in  New  Jeniev  —  Wonderful  Physical  Effects 
of  his  Preathiug  —  Methodist  Opinion  on  such  Phenomena  —  Abbott's 
Character  —  Hi»  Colloquial  Minintrations  —  He  goes  abroad  preaching 
In  New  Jersey  —  Remarkable  Examples  of  his  Uscfubiess  —  James 
Sterling  —  Abbott  and  Sterling  in  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania—  Ke- 
niarkable  Scenes  —  Martin  Boehm  —  Abbott  among  the  Germans  — 
"Physical  Phenomena"  again  —  Scenes  in  Maryland  —  Abbott's 
"Thunder-gust  Sermon  —  Revisits  Delaware  —  Extraordinary  Effects 

—  Jesse  Lee  —  Ho  preaches  in  a  Military  Camp  —  Description  of  a 
Primitive  Conference  —  His  Labors  and  Character — Methodism  dur- 
ing the  Kevolution— Church  buil.ling — Startling  Scene  in  Sulem,N.  J. 

—  The  British  in  New  York  —  John-street  Church  —  John  Mann  and 
Samuel  Spruggs  —  British  Persecutions  —  Central  Methodism. 

DuRrxo  most  of  llie  period  now  under  review  (1775- 
1784)  Philip  Gatch  was  "abundant  in  labors"  and  suf- 
ferinp;s.  Though  he  escaped  imprisonment,  "he  was, 
perhaps,  the  subject  of  as  much,  or  more,  persecution 
for  his  Master's  sake  than  any  of  his  cotemporaries.'" 
He  was  sent  by  the  Conference  of  1775  to  Kent  Circuit, 
in  Maryland.  His  colleague  was  John  Cooper,  a  young 
man  whom  he  first  met  on  Frederick  Circuit,  and  had 
recommended  to  the  Conference ;  a  "  m.in  of  a  solemn, 
fixed  countenance,  who  had  suffered  much  persecution." 
Cooper's  family  had  opposed  him ;  his  father  seeing  him 
«  Sketch  of  Rev.  Philip  Gatch,  by  Judge  M'Lean,  p.  49. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         375 

once  on  his  knees,  in  a  chamber,  threw  a  shovel  of  hot 
embers  upon  him,  and  afterward  expelled  him  from  his 
home.  His  trials  only  confirmed  him  in  his  faith;  he 
joined  the  itinerant  band  of  evangelists,  and  lived  and 
died  in  their  ranks.  Gatch  encountered  some  trials  on 
the  Kent  Circuit,  especially  from  "Parson  Kain,"  the 
noted  opponent  of  all  itinerants  who  appeared  in  that 
region.  The  evangelist,  however,  quietly  but  adroitly 
foiled  him,  and  the  clerical  persecutor's  flock  was  soon 
scattered,  "  his  place  was  lost,  and  he  troubled  the  Meth- 
odists no  more." 

While  attending  the  Conference  at  Philadelphia  Gatch 
had  unconsciously  taken. the  small-pox,  which  now  broke 
out  violently,  arresting  his  travels  and  endangering  his 
life.  A  Methodist  family  hospitably  took  care  of  him, 
though  the  father  and  a  daughter  of  the  house  perished 
by  the  infection.  He  struggled  through  the  attack,  "  suf- 
fering indescribably,"  and  again  moimted  his  horse  and 
went  forth  preaching  from  town  to  town.  Our  borders, 
he  says,  were  enlarged.  In  the  fall  he  passed  to  Balti- 
more Circuit,  where  he  traveled  some  time  with  success. 
Thence  he  pressed  forward  to  Frederick  Circuit.  Hos- 
tilities still  prevailed  there,  and  he  met  with  vexations, 
or  more  serious  trials,  at  almost  every  settlement.  At 
one  of  his  appointments  two  Baptist  preachers  had  lately 
been  driven  away,  dragged  from  their  preaching-stand ; 
when  he  arrived,  three  leading  citizens  confronted  and 
threatened  him,  but  his  calm  courage  could  not  be 
daunted.  One  of  them  examined  his  thtrology,  and  find- 
ing it  not  Calvinistic,  succumbed ;  the  others  deemed  it 
politic  to  follow  this  example,  and  all  finally  concluded  to 
allow  him  to  preach,  and  to  stay  and  hear  him.  He  won 
the  field,  his  opponents  could  hardly  tell  how ;  but  it  was 
by  the  power  of  that  combined  courage,  calmness,  and 


i 


376  HISTORY    OF    THE 

religious  suavity  which  pre-eminently  characterized  him, 
and  which  compelled  most  of  his  opposers  to  feel  that 
it  was  necessary  to  their  own  self-respect  to  treat  him 
with  respect.  At  his  third  appointment  a  stout  persecu- 
tor thrust  him  from  the  door  of  the  house  in  which  he 
was  to  preach.  A  "  small  man,"  witnessing  the  scene,  took 
him  to  his  own  hQUsc,  defying  the  ruffian,  and  the  itin- 
erant courageously  preached  within  hearing  of  the  family 
from  which  he  had  been  expelled. 

Between  Bladensburg  and  Baltimore  he  was  to  meet 
severer  treatment.  Under  the  ministry  of  one  of  his 
predecessors,  the  wife  of  a  hardened  opposer  had  been 
converted.  The  enraged  husband  determined  to  take 
revenge  on  the  next  itinerant  who  should  make  his  ap- 
pearance. As  Gatch  was  riding  along  to  his  apj)oint- 
ment,  toward  evening,  followed  by  a  procession  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  on  their  way  to  hear  him,  two  men 
seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse  and  stopped  him ;  others, 
till  then  in  concealment,  hailed  the  assailants,  and  the 
preacher  was  led  up  to  the  mob.  They  had  made 
jireparations  for  him  and  jjroceeded  to  tar  him,  "be- 
ginning at  his  left  cheek."  "The  uproar,"  he  writes, 
"  now  became  very  great,  some  swearing  and  some 
crying.  My  company  was  anxious  to  fight  my  way 
through.  The  women  were  especially  resolute :  they 
dealt  out  their  denunciations  against  the  mob  in  un- 
measured terms.  With  much  persuasion  I  prevented 
my  friends  from  using  violent  means.  I  told  them  I 
could  bear  it  for  Christ's  sake.  I  felt  au  uninterrupted 
peace.  My  soul  was  joyful  in  the  God  of  ray  salva- 
tion. The  man  who  officiated  called  out  for  more  tar, 
adding  that  I  was  '  true  blue.'  lie  laid  it  on  liberally. 
At  length  one  of  the  company  cried  out  in  mercy,  '  It  is 
enough.'     The  last  stroke,  made  with  the  paddle  with 


"1 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         377 

which  the  tar  was  applied,  was  drawn  across  the  naked 
eyeball,  which  caused  severe  pain,  from  which  I  have  never 
entirely  recovered.  In  taking  cold  it  often  becomes  in- 
flamed, and  quite  painful.  I  was  not  taken  from  my 
horse,  which  was  a  very  spirited  animal.  Two  men  held 
him  by  the  bridle,  while  the  one,  elevated  to  a  suitable 
height,  applied  the  tar.  My  horse  became  so  frightened 
that  when  they  let  him  go  he  dashed  off  with  such  vio- 
lence that  I  could  not  rein  him  up  for  some  time,  and 
narrowly  escaped  having  my  brains  dashed  out  against  a 
tree.  K I  ever  felt  for  the  souls  of  men  I  did  for  theirs. 
When  I  got  to  my  appointment,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
so  overpowered  me  that  I  fell  prostrate  before  him  for 
my  enemies."  He  again  conquered,  notwithstanding 
this  outrageous  treatment;  for  the  leader  of  the  mob, 
who  had  applied  the  tar,  and  several  of  his  associates, 
were  afterward  converted.  But  a  conspiracy  was  formed 
by  others  to  waylay,  if  not  to  murder  the  preacher.  A 
number  of  ruffians  concealed  themselves  under  a  bridge 
with  weapons  to  attack  him  when  he  should  pass  over  it. 
The  design  was  revealed  to  some  of  his  friends,  and  one 
of  them  rode  over  the  bridge,  while  he  was  sent  around 
on  another  road.  The  conspirators  rushed  upon  his 
friend,  but  were  confounded  when  they  discovered  not 
the  preacher,  but  one  of  their  own  neighbors.  Gatch 
escaped,  and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  and  preaching. 

Having  failed  in  this  attempt,  his  enemies  circulated 
the  worse  slanders  against  him.  They  reported  that  he 
had  been  shot  for  robbing  a  man ;  that  he  had  blacked 
himself  for  the  purpose ;  but  on  being  washed  was  found 
to  be  "  Gatch  the  Methodist  Preacher."  No  part  of  the 
country  needed  more  such  evangelical  laborers  as  Gatch, 
for  not  a  few  of  its  population  were  in  extreme  demorali- 
zation.    They  had  nearly  destroyed  the  life  of  a  young 


878  HISTORY    OF    THE 

exhorter  by  waylaying  and  whipping  him  ;  the  "  shirt 
upon  his  hack,  though  made  ol'  the  most  substantial 
material,  being  literally  cut  to  pieces."  Gatch  and  his 
fellow-itinerants  were  no  cowards;  they  gathered  cour- 
age from  their  trials ;  and  though  they  followed  the 
Scripture  precept,  when  persecuted  in  one  city  to  flee  to 
another,  yet  it  was  their  policy  to  return  in  due  time 
to  the  scene  of  hostilities,  and  never  finally  succumb. 
In  four  weeks  he  rode  again  to  the  same  appointment 
where  he  had  been  "tarred  "  and  threatened  at  the  bridge. 
lie  thus  refuted  the  report  of  his  death  as  a  robber. 
His  friends  had  formed  a  guard  for  him,  but  he  had  no 
need  of  their  aid.  "  I  never,"  he  says,  "  missed  an  ap- 
pointment from  the  persecutions  through  which  I  had  to 
j)ass,  or  the  dangers  to  which  I  was  exposed.  I  some- 
times felt  great  timidity,  but  in  the  hour  of  danger  ray 
fears  always  vanished."  The  persecutions  on  Frederick 
Circuit  were  thus  ended. 

His  next  appointment  was  on  Hanover  Circuit,  in  Vir- 
ginia. It  extended  along  both  sides  of  James  River 
through  six  counties.  The  BaptistH  had  preceded  the 
Methodists  in  all  this  region,  and  "  had  rolled  back  the 
wave  of  persecution."  Shubal  Steams  and  Daniel  Mar- 
shall, two  of  their  faithful  evangelists,  converts  of  White- 
field,  had  traversed  it,  sowing  "  the  good  seed."  John 
Ilaller  had  endured  fiery  trials,  being  imprisoned  at  dif- 
ferent times  a  hundred  and  thirteen  days.  Jarratt  and 
M'Roberts  had  also  repeatedly  passed  through  the  set- 
tlements, sounding  the  alarm,  and  there  were  now  large 
congregations  and  zealous  worshipers  at  the  circuit  aj)- 
pointments.  Gatch  h.ad  to  preach  mostly  in  the  open 
air,  for  no  house  could  contain  his  hearers.  His  health 
gave  way.  "  It  seemed  at  last,"  he  says,  "  that  his 
lungs  were  entirely  gone.     Frequently  I  would  have  to 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        879 

raise  myself  up  in  the  bed  to  get  my  breath.  I  felt  it 
even  a  difficulty  to  live.  The  sensation  of  my  whole 
system  was  as  though  thousands  of  pins  were  piercing 
me.  While  in  the  North  I  had  to  contend  with  perse- 
cution ;  now  bodily  affliction  attended  me." 

Jarratt  sheltered  and  consoled  him.  "  He  lived,"  says 
Gatch,  "  in  the  bounds  of  this  circuit.  He  labored  extens- 
ively, and  was  very  useful.  Several  preachers  were 
raised  up  under  his  ministry,  who  became  connected 
with  our  Society,  and  some  of  them  itinerated.  He  fit- 
ted up  his  barn  for  our  accommodation,  and  it  became  a 
regular  preaching-place,  where  quarterly  meetings  were 
occasionally  held.  The  hospitalities  of  his  house  were 
generously  conferred  upon  us,  and  he  was  truly  a  nursing 
father  to  Methodist  preachers.  Mr.  Shadford  had  spent 
the  principal  part  of  his  time,  for  two  years,  on  this  cir- 
cuit. His  ministry  had  been  owned  of  the  Lord.  Great 
numbers  had  embraced  religion ;  some  professed  sancti- 
fication,  and  the  Societies  were  comfortably  established 
in  the  Gospel  of  their  salvation." 

In  1777  he  was  sent  to  Sussex  Circuit,  Va.,  but  his 
enfeebled  health  rendered  him  comparatively  ineffective. 
Here  also  he  had  trials  from  persecutors.  While  riding 
to  an  appointment  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  he  was  seized 
by  two  strong  men,  who  caught  hold  of  his  arms  and  turned 
them,  in  opposite  directions,  with  such  violence,  that  he 
thought  his  shoulders  would  be  dislocated,  causing  a 
torture  which  he  supposed  must  resemble  that  of  the 
rack — the  severest  pain  he  had  ever  felt.  His  shoulders 
were  so  bruised  that  they  turned  black,  and  it  was  a 
considerable  time  before  he  recovered  the  use  of  them. 
His  lungs  were  also  worse  than  ever.  It  seemed  neces- 
sary for  him  to  give  up  his  work,  but  the  circuit  being 
divided,  he  attempted  to  take  charge  of  the  part  of  it 


U- 


380  HISTORY    OF    THE 

which  lay  on  the  north  side  of  James  River,  "We 
enlarged  our  borders,"  he  writes;  "doors  were  freely 
opened,  many  received  the  Gospel  in  the  love  of  its 
benefits,  and  by  the  Conference,  we  had  formed  a  four- 
weeks'  circuit." 

His  ill  health  continued,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
retreat ;  he  was  also  now  a  married  man ;  at  the  Confer- 
ence of  1 7TS  his  name  disa{)pears  from  the  list  of  appoint- 
ments. There  was  then  no  "  supernumerary  relation  " 
recognized  by  that  body ;  a  jjreacher  without  an  ap- 
jxiintment  was  therefore  without  a  record.  Galch  located 
his  family  on  a  himible  farm  in  Powhattan  County,  Vir- 
ginia, but  continued  to  labor  in  the  ministry  as  his  health 
would  allow.  One  of  liis  friends,  referrinff  to  this  iieriod  of 
his  retirement,  records  that  "  He  generally  preached  twice 
on  the  Sabbath,  sometimes  from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  dis- 
tant, attended  niany  funerals,  frequently  administered  the 
ordinance  of  baptism  and  matrimony.  Many  became 
convicted  and  were  converted  through  his  instrumental- 
ity. Ilis  house  was  a  retreat  for  Methodist  j)reachers, 
and  his  conipany  much  desired  by  them.  He  stood  high 
as  a  ])reacher  among  ministers  of  other  denominations, 
as  well  as  those  of  his  own  Church,  and  was  beloved  by 
all  Christians." 

It  was  here  that  he  liberated  his  slaves,  nine  in  num- 
ber, who  had  come  into  his  possession  by  his  marriage. 
He  declared  manfully  in  the  deed  of  emancipation, 
"  Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Philip  Gatch, 
of  Powhattan  County,  Virginia,  do  believe  that  all  men 
are  by  nature  equally  free ;  and  from  a  clear  conviction 
of  the  injustice  of  depriving  my  fellow-creatures  of  their 
natural  rights,  do  hereby  emancipate  and  set  free  tho 
following  persons." 

Asbury  regretted  the  disappearance  of  Gatch's  name 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         381 

from  the  Minutes,  and  fx-equently  recommended  its  rein- 
sertion, insisting  that  he  still  belonged  to  the  itinerant 
ministry,  for  he  still  labored  extensively  in  his  new  neigh- 
borhood, and  he  had  never,  by  his  own  act  or  that 
of  the  Conference,  been  formally  dismissed  from  that 
body.  After  his  removal  to  the  West,  whither  we  shall 
hereafter  follow  him,  it  was  restored  to  the  record.  We 
shall  have  occasion  to  retrace  his  important  services  dur- 
ing the  present  period  in  the  sessions  of  the  Annual  Con- 
ference, particularly  in  connection  with  the  sacramental 
controversy.  He  and  Watters,  the  first  two  native  Meth- 
odist itinerants,  were  in  the  opposite  parties  of  that  con- 
troversy, and  by  their  prudence  and  conciliatcrry  loyalty 
saved  the  denomination  from  imminent  disasters.  He 
did  active  service  for  the  Conference  even  when  his  name 
no  longer  appeared  in  its  list  of  appointments.  As  the 
English  preachers  had  retired  before  the  storm  of  the 
Revolution,  and  Asbury  was  in  confinement,  the  session 
of  that  body  in  ITYY  appointed  a  committee  of  five  to 
take  the  general  superintendency  of  the  denomination. 
It  consisted  of  Gatch,  Dromgoole,  Glendenning,  Ruif, 
and  Watters.  Gatch  served  in  this  capacity  till  Asbury 
could  again  venture  into  the  open  field.  His  services  are 
however  unnoticed  in  the  published  Minutes.  It  was  yet 
the  day  of  primitive  simplicity  in  the  Church ;  its  annual 
records  or  Minutes  seldom  exceed  a  page  in  print ;  they 
record  no  names  except  of  men  who  actually  take  ap- 
pointments, save  only  that  of  Asbury ;  those  who  fall 
martyrs  in  their  work  are  left  in  silence  to  the  "  record  on 
high  ;"  there  are  no  "  superannuates,"  no  "  supernumer- 
aries," and  down  to  1779  no  "locations"  noticed.  Even 
at  this  date  the  "locations"  are  not  yet  distinguished 
from  secessions — all  who  retire  from  the  itinerancy 
are  classed  as  "  desisting  from  traveling,"  and  disappear 


382  HISTORY    OF    THE 

from  the  record,  however  laborious  may  be  their  jJuDse. 
quent  services  as  "local  preachers." 

It  is  difficult  to  trace  with  exactness,  through  the  pres- 
ent period,  the  labors  of  Benjamin  Abbott,  iu  many 
respects  the  most  remarkable  evang^Jist  in  the  eventful 
field.  This  mighty  but  simple-minded  apostle,  hiteut 
only  on  the  spiritual  results  of  his  humble  mission,  seldum 
pauses  to  note  dates  or  localities.  It  is  his  "  next  appoint- 
ment," and  again,  and  still  again,  his  "next  appointment," 
with  the  marvelous  effects  of  tlie  truth  that  he  records  ; 
hurrying  us  forward  with  intiuse  interest,  with  frequent 
and  bewildering  8ur]>rises  at  the  mysterious  power  of  the 
man,  and  at  both  the  spiritual  and  physical  phenomena 
which  it  produces.  If  we  can  pause  at  all  over  his  exciting 
narrative,  it  is  to  wonder  at  the  moral,  the  beneficent  ef- 
ficacy of  his  ministrations,  the  peculiar,  the  magnetic 
eloquence  of  his  unix^lished  discourse,  and  the  question- 
able if  not  inexplicable  prol)lems  of  its  physical  effects. 
Seldom  does  he  preach  without  some  of  these  "  physical 
phenomena  ;"  his  hearers  by  tens  and  scores  fall  like  dead 
men  to  the  earth.  If  he  is  himself,  at  first,  astonished  at 
these  wonders,  his  simple  and  honest  mind  has  a  very  direct 
logic  respecting  them.  They  are  "  insanity,"  they  are 
"  demoniacal,"  cry  out  shrewd  and  self-possessed  specta- 
tors. Wait,  replies  the  evangelist,  let  us  see  how  these 
slain  come  to  life  again.  If  they  are  insane  they  will  show 
it ;  if  these  strange  things  are  of  the  devil  they  will  re- 
cover their  self-possession  blaspheming  and  be  worse  than 
they  were  before.  They  "  come  to,"  not  in  general,  but 
invariably,  with  words  of  praise  upon  their  lips,  with 
grateful  tears,  with  resolutions  and  strength  to  live  a 
new  life.  "  Stand  still,"  cried  Abbott  to  gainsayers, 
"  stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  God."  Intellectual- 
ly he  was  incapable  of  other  reasoning  on  the  subject, 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        383 

and  went  forward  preaching,  swaying  and  prostrating 
his  wondering  congregations.  The  preaching  of  no  early 
Methodist  itinerant  was  attended  with  more  of  these 
marvels,  but  they  were  not  peculiar  to  him.  Edwards 
had  recorded  them  in  his  accoimt  of  the  "  Great  Awak- 
ening." They  had  occurred  in  the  scene  of  Abbott's  pres- 
ent labors  in  New  Jersey,  as  we  have  seen,  under  the 
preaching  of  the  Presbyterian  evangelists  of  Whitefield's 
day.  Among  the  severe-minded  Scotch  Whitefield's 
preaching  had  produced  them,  and  cool,  stout-hearted 
men  had  been  carried  out  of  his  great  congregations  "  as 
if  slain  in  battle."  They  had  attended  Wesley's  calm, 
perspicuous  preaching,  even  before  the  powerful  oratory 
of  Whitefield  produced  them.  Wesley  could  never  reach 
any  conclusive  opinion  of  their  character,  though  he  in- 
stituted, at  Newcastle,  a  sort  of  scientific  investigation  of 
their  causes  and  symptoms.  At  one  time  he  admits  them 
to  be  the  eflTect  of  divine  influence ;  at  another  he  sus- 
pects a  diaboHcal  cause.  Charles  Wesley  conclusively 
condemned  and  endeavored  to  repress  them,  Richard 
Watson  has  expressed  the  general  sentiment  of  Method- 
ists respecting  them,  that  though  they  are  evidently  phys- 
ical, arising  from  some  occult  nervous  susceptibility, 
peculiar,  perhaps,  to  certain  constitutions,  they  do  not 
prove  that  an  extraordinary  work  of  God  is  not  at  the 
same  time  going  on  in  the  hearts  of  persons  so  affected ; 
that  by  the  exercise  of  a  firm  discipline,  then  most  of  all 
to  be  exerted,  they  are  as  far  as  possible  to  be  repressed, 
"  for  the  power  of  the  work  does  not  lie  in  them,"  and 
that  yet  discipline,  though  firm,  ought  to  be  cautious,  for 
the  sake  of  the  real  blessing,  with  which  at  such  seasons 
God  is  crowning  the  administration  of  his  truth.^ 

2  History  of  the  Eeligious  Movement,  etc.,  called  Methodism,  vol.  ii, 
p.  126,  where  will  be  found  a  more  extended  examination  of  the  subject. 


384  HISTORY    OF    THE 

We  shall  hereafter  have  to  record  frequent  examples 
of  these  "  phenomena,"  especially  in  the  West,  not  al- 
ways arising  from  Methodistic  influence,  but,  in  the  most 
extraordinary  instance,  from  the  ministrations  of  another 
denomination.  Api)arently  a  sj)ccific  eflect  of  religious 
excitement,  on  a  peculiar  cerebral  susceptibility,  they 
have  been  common  to  all  religions.  The  tranquil  Friends 
owe  their  name  of  "  Quakers  "  to  them.  The  devotees 
of  Brahma  and  of  Bhudda,  the  Dervishes  of  Islamism,  the 
Convulsionaires  of  France,  the  Mystics  of  all  faiths  and  all 
ages,  have  afforded  examples  of  them.  In  our  day  they 
have  occurred  almost  on  a  national  scale  in  Ireland,  in 
connection  with  a  salutary  religious  interest.  Our  future 
science  can  alone  give  their  just  solution.  But  science 
has  its  pride  and  its  pharisaism,  as  unlicfitting  to  it  as  the 
same  vices  are  to  religion ;  it  affected  at  first  to  ridicule 
Ilcrvey,  Jenner,  Galileo,  and  Copernicus.  A  fastidious 
repugnance  to  the  charge  of  charlatanism  has  led  it,  in 
the  present  age,  to  ignore  or  impute  solely  to  imposture, 
falsely  called  "  spiritualistic  "  phenomena,  which  have  de- 
luded half  the  civilized  world,  which  have  afforded  the 
most  palpable  data  for  investigation,  and  in  which  impos- 
ture has  evidently  been  but  exceptional,  while  an  occult 
and  profoundly  interesting  scientific  law  has  been  indi- 
cated ;  a  law  the  ascertainment  of  which  would  probably 
disclose  the  as  yet  dim  and  misty  intermediate  region 
that  connects  the  material  and  immaterial  worlds.  The 
scientific  solution  of  these  mysteries  might  dispel  a  vast 
amount  of  superstition,  and  afford  beneficent  reliefs  to  our 
psychological  and  theological  science. 

To  the  student  of  such  marvels  the  autobiography  of 
Abbott  offers  the  most  curious  data ;  a  magnetic  power, 
if  such  it  can  be  called,  which,  intensified  by  his  piety, 
was  as  irresistible,  to  certain  temperaments,  as  the  elec- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        385 

tricity  of  lightning — a  seemingly  clairvoyant  discernment, 

a  somnambulic  insight  and  foresight,  in  dreams;  facts  that 

would  be  incredible,  were  not  his  honesty  absolutely  uur 

questionable,  and  were  they  not  so  circumstantially  given, 

and  so  well  known  in  the  community  among  whom  his 

narrative  was  circulated,  as  to  silence  all  denial.     Few 

if  any  men  were  better  known,  in  his  day,  throughout 

New  Jersey,  than  Benjamin  Abbott.     He  was  not  only 

generally  respected,  but  beloved.    The  natural  kindliness 

of  his  temper,  the  unction  of  his  religious  feelings,  the 

purity  and  simplicity  of  his  life,  his  quiet  courage,  the 

fatherly  tenderness  of  his  manners,  the  richness,  in  line, 

of  his  nature  in   all  those  qualities   which  make  "  the 

whole  world   kin,"  and   to  which   the   imsophisticated 

common  mind  so  readily  responds  in  popular  assemblies, 

made  him  dear,  not  only  to  all  devout  but  to  all  honest 

men.    He  was  generally  addressed  as  "  Father  Abbott ;" 

many  delighted   to    call   him  their   "spiritual  father;"' 

and  not  rarely  were  public  assemblies  melted  into  tears 

by  the  sight  of  robust  men,  hardy  but  reclaimed  sinners, 

rushing  into  his  arms  and  weeping  with  filial  gratitude 

upon  his  neck.' 

He  traveled  and  preached  for  years  without  one  cent 

3  His  memoir  abounds  in  simple  if  not  comical  illustrations  of  liuman 
nature.  There  is  probably  no  better  disclosure  to  be  found  of  the 
familiar  and  intimate  life,  the  homely  sentiments  and  style,  of  the  lower 
but  honest  classes  of  Kew  Jersey  in  the  last  century.  Their  grateful 
aifection  for  good  "Father  Abbott"  (notwithstanding  his  rencounters 
•vith  mobs,  always  sooner  or  later  subdued  by  him)  was  one  of  his  sorest 
trials,  for  it  troubled  his  conscience  as  a  tribute  to  the  creature  that  be- 
longed only  to  the  Creator.  "One  old  woman,"  he  says,  "to  whose 
soul  the  Lord  had  spoken  peace,  clapped  her  hands,  and  began  to  praise 
the  creature  rather  than  the  Creator,  I  stepped  up  to  her  and  said :  '  I 
have  done  nothing  for  you ;  if  there  be  any  good,  it  is  the  Lord  who  has 
done  it,  and  therefore  praise  God.'  '  0  !'  said  she,  'but  you  are  a  dear 
good  creature  for  all !'  I  turned  away  and  went  among  the  people." 
His  book  is  full  of  similar  examples  of  popular  heartiness  and  weak- 
ness. 

A— 25 


386  IIISTOKY    OF    THE 

of  compensation,  except  his  hospitable  entertainment 
among  the  people.  Frugal  and  industrious,  he  sustained 
his  family  l)y  tilling  a  small  farm,  hiring  laborers  that  he 
might  alternate  his  manual  toils  with  itinerant  excur- 
sions ;  and,  when  he  preached,  within  convenient  prox- 
imity to  his  fami,  he  led  his  workmen  to  liis  meetings, 
paying  them  for  their  time  at  the  rate  that  he  payed 
for  their  lalior.  All  his  family  were  members  of  the 
Oiurch,  and  shared  his  zeal ;  one  of  his  sons  went  forth 
an  itinerant ;  the  remainder  of  the  household  made  their 
home  a  sort  of  chapel ;  it  was  the  resort  of  earnest  in- 
quirers, often  from  a  distance;  and  at  such  visits  nut  only 
the  father,  but  the  mother,  and  child  after  child,  took 
part  in  the  customary  prayers  and  exhortations.  Many 
a  visitor  went  from  tlie  door  with  his  face  turned  forever 
heavenward.  He  had  a  chaj)el  erected  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, for  which  he  begged  money  and  timber,  from 
house  to  house.  Though  he  was  not  yet  fifty  years  old, 
his  apj)earance  was  unusually  paternal,  if  not  patriarchal ; 
his  person  was  large,  his  countenance  bland,  his  man- 
ners marked  by  religious  tenderness.  He  dressed  with 
Quaker-like  simplicity,  and  his  broad-brinmied  h;it  and 
straight  coat  added  not  a  little  to  the  attraction  of  his 
devout  temper  among  the  numerous  "Friends"  of  New 
Jersey.  Tliey  frequented  his  appointments,  entertained 
him  at  their  homes,  and  urged  hira  to  preach  in  their 
Meeting-houses.  "Thee  appears  so  much  like  us  we 
will  welcome  thee,"  said  their  own  preachers  to  hira. 
They  liked  him  the  more  for  his  Quaker  doctrine  about 
war,  then  raging  in  the  land.  He  was  a  sound  patriot, 
but  could  not  approve  fighting,  though  in  early  life  a 
formidable  pugilist.  "  My  call  is  to  preach  salvation  to 
sinners,"  he  said ;  "  to  wage  war  against  the  works  of 
the  devil."    He  was  sometimes  assailed  by  troops.    Then 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        387 

more  than  ever  he  blew  the  "  trumpet  of  the  Gospel," 
and  never  failed  of  victory.  A  major  angrily  attacked 
him  for  not  "preaching  up  war."  "I  related  to  him," 
he  says,  "  my  conviction  and  conversion,  and  he  was  calm 
and  wished  me  well."  While  the  state  was  distracted 
with  the  marching  and  countermarching  of  troops,  he 
was  allowed  to  go  on,  in  his  own  evangelical  warfare, 
through  its  length  and  breadth.  Like  Christ  on  the 
highways,  his  preaching  was  talk  to  the  people ;  he  en- 
tered no  house  but  as  an  evangelist,  and  his  colloquial  min- 
istration of  the  truth  probably  did  more  good  than  his 
public  discourses.  "  On  my  way  to  my  next  appoint- 
ment,"'' he  says,  "  I  came  to  a  small  village,  stojiped  at 
a  house,  and  asked  the  man  if  they  had  any  preaching 
there.  He  said,  '  No.'  I  said,  '  I  am  a  preacher,  a>nd  if 
you  will  give  notice  I  will  preach  to  the  people.'  But 
he  replied,  '  They  do  not  want  preaching  here,'  and  ap- 
peared angry.  I  then  told  my  experience  to  the  man, 
his  wife,  and  two  young  women ;  and  the  dreadful  state 
that  man  is  in  by  nature,  and  then  pointed  out  a  Saviour. 
One  of  the  young  women  began  to  weep.  I  was  very 
happy,  and  asked  the  man  if  I  might  pray  ;  he  gave  me 
leave,  and  I  said,  '  Let  us  pray.'  I  had  no  sooner  began 
than  they  wept  aloud."  Such  was  his  sim2:)le  method,  as 
he  "  went  about  doing  good,"  and  it  could  seldom  fail  to 
be  effectual.  In  this  case  the  weeping  family  offered  him 
dinner,  and  food  for  his  horse.  "  I  left  them,"  he  says, 
"  all  in  tears.  I  saw  one  of  the  young  women  some  time 
afterward,  and  she  told  me  that  she  was  awake^ied  at 
that  time,  and  had  since  found  the  Lord  precious  to  hor 
soul,  and  had  joined  a  Methodist  class." 

He  went  to  Trenton,  but  found  the  Methodist  Chapel 

« When  and  where  I  cannot  precisely  ascertain ;  he  even  forgets  to  tell, 
in  his  Memoir,  the  place  and  date  of  his  birth. 


888  HISTORY    OF    THE 

used  as  a  stable  by  the  army,  and  preached  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  He  went  forward  and  "preached  in 
the  evening  to  a  crowded  congregation,"  he  writes,  "  and 
God  j)Oiired  out  liis  Spirit  in  such  a  manner  that  one  fell 
to  the  floor.  A  captain  and  some  soldiers  came  to  take 
me  up,  but  the  Spirit  of  God  took  him  up  in  such  a  manner 
that  he  returned  home  crying  to  God  for  mercy.  I  saw 
him  some  time  after,  happy  in  God.  We  spent  a  j)reciou8 
time  together,  and  parted  in  love.  This  meeting  was  a 
time  of  God's  power ;  many  were  awakened  to  a  sense 
of  their  danger,  and  the  people  of  God  were  happy,  and, 
for  my  part,  I  was  very  happy."  lie  visits  an  uncle, 
whom  he  had  not  seen  for  seventeen  years,  and  says: 
"  As  I  sat  my  foot  on  the  steps  of  the  door  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord  came  upon  me.  After  asking  them  all  how 
they  did,  I  told  them  my  experience.  My  uncle  and 
aunt  wept  sore,  and  I  cried  out,  '  The  Lord  is  here !'  A 
friend  present  said,  'He  is  come,  for  I  feel  his  Spirit 
upon  me,'  which  caused  my  aunt  to  wonder  what  this 
meant."  They  all  .accompany  him  to  his  next  appoint- 
ment, where  there  is  "  a  melting  time."  lie  soon  after 
meets  them  again,  and  finds  his  aimt  thoroughly  "  awak- 
ened." Other  relatives  of  his  family  learn  the  news ; 
they  meet  him;  and  "  we  had  a  weeping  time,"  he  writes, 
"  all  the  evening.  They  said  this  is  the  religion  of 
Jesus!"  lie  forms  a  class  among  them,  and  sends  to  it 
a  leader  from  Trenton.  Many  a  Society  does  he  fonn  in 
this  manner.  He  continues :  "  I  went  to  my  next  ap- 
jtointment,  where  they  had  threatened  to  tar  and  feather 
me.  Some  advised  me  to  go  some  other  way ;  but  when 
I  arrived  at  the  place  I  found  a  large  congregation  assem- 
bled, to  whom  I  preached,  .and  God  attended  the  Word 
with  power  —  m.any  shed  tears  in  abundance."  They 
were  now  unwilling  to  let  him  go  away.     "  As  I  was 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        389 

about  to  depart,  two  young  men  came  to  me ;  one  took 
hold  of  my  leg,  and  the  other  held  my  horse  by  the  neck, 
and  said,  '  Will  you  go !'     I  sat  on  my  horse  for  some 
time,  exhorting  them  to  persevere,  and  the  Lord  would 
bless  them.     Many  more  stood  weeping ;  so  we  parted, 
and  I  went  to  the  New  Mills,  (Pemberton,)  where  the 
people  came  out  by  hundreds,  to  whom  I  preached  my 
farewell  sermon.     I  returned  home,  and  by  Thursday 
night  a  letter  was  sent,  informing  me  that  sixteen  were 
justified,  and  two  sanctified.     The  reading  of  this  letter 
filled  my  soul  with  love,  and  I  was  determined  to  preach 
sanctification  more  than  ever.     I  received  a  letter  from 
a  Presbyterian  in  Deerfield,  that  his  house  and  heart 
were  open  to  receive  me,  adding,  '  When  you  read  these 
lines  look  upon  it  as  a  call  from  God.'     I  accordingly 
wrote  to  him  to  make  an   appointment  for  me  on  the 
Sunday  following.     I  attended,  and  found  a  large  con- 
gregation, to  whom  I  preached,  and  some  few  wept.     I 
attended  again  that  day  two  weeks,  and  we  had  a  melt- 
ing time.     I  then  made  au  appointment  for  the  traveling 
preacher.    This  and  several  other  places  in  the  neighbor- 
hood were  taken  into  the  circuit.     The  Lord  began  to 
work  in  a  powerful  manner,  and  we  soon  had  two  classes; 
then  the  devil  roared  horribly  ;  but  God  worked  power- 
fully, and  blessed  the  Word,  and  sent  it  with  power  to 
many  hearts ;  many  fell  under  it  like  dead  men,  being 
alarmed  of  their  danger.    We  appointed  a  watch-night. 
This  brought  so  many  to  see  what  it  meant  that  the 
house    could    not    contain    the    people.      One    of    our 
preachers  preached,  and  then  an  exhortation  was  given  ; 
the  Lord  poured  out  his  Spirit  in  such  a  manner  that 
the   slain   lay  all   over  the   house;    many  others  were 
prevented    from    falling    by    the    crowd,    which    stood 
8o   close   that  they   supported  one  another.     We  con- 


890  HISTORY    OF    THE 

tinned  till  about  midnight ;  some  staid  all  night,  and  in  the 
morning  others  came  ;  several  found  peace,  and  many  cried 
to  God  for  mercy ;  it  was  a  jjowerful  time  to  many  souls." 

He  went  to  a  Quarterly  Meeting  on  Morris  River, 
"  and,"  he  writes,  "  we  had  a  powerful  time ;  the  slain 
lay  all  through  the  house,  and  round  it,  and  in  the  woods, 
crying  to  God  for  mercy,  and  others  praising  hira  for  the 
deliverance  of  their  souls.  At  this  time  there  came  uji 
the  river  a  look-out  boat;  the  crew  landed  and  came  to 
the  meeting ;  one  of  them  stood  by  a  woman  that  lay  on 
the  ground,  crying  to  God  for  mercy,  an<l  said  to  her, 
'Why  do  you  not  cry  louder?'  She  immediately  begun 
to  pray  for  hira,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  strnck  him 
to  the  ground,  and  he  lay  and  cried  for  mercy  louder 
than  the  woman.  This  meeting  continued  from  eleven 
o'clock  till  night." 

These  extraordinary  effects  sometimes  spread  through 
nearly  his  whole  congregation,  few  escaping,  exce[)t  such 
as  rushed  out  of  the  doors,  or  leaped  out  of  the  windows. 
If  a  temjwrary  tumult  ensued  it  was  soon  allayed,  while 
the  moral  impression  seemed  to  be  permanent  and  salu- 
tarj' ;  many  of  the  most  noted  reprobates  of  the  county 
being  reformed  and  converted  at  once  into  good  Chris- 
tians and  good  citizens. 

He  attended  another  quarterly  meeting  soon  afterward, 
where  "the  Lord  made  bare  his  ami,  and  some  fell  to 
the  floor,  and  others  ran  away."  When  he  was  about  to 
depart  an  "  old  lady,"  he  says,  "  put  two  dollars  into  my 
hand.  Tliis  was  the  first  money  that  I  had  ever  received 
as  a  preacher ;  but  He  that  was  mindful  of  the  young 
ravens  Avas  mindful  of  me.  I  had  always  traveled  at  my 
own  charge  before.  When  I  received  this  I  had  but 
fifteen  pence  in  my  pocket,  and  was  above  two  hundred 
miles  from  home." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         891 

His  labors  in  all  the  region  about  Salem,  noted  at  that 
time  for  its  demoralization,  were  surprisingly  successful. 
Some  able  preachers  were  raised  up  by  him.  Often  a 
sinerle  sentence  in  his  conversation  left  an  ineffaceable 
impression.  Taking  leave  of  a  family,  he  gave  his  hand 
to  a  military  officer  at  the  door,  saying,  "  God,  out  of 
Christ,  is  a  consuming  fire.  Farewell."  "  And  so,"  he 
adds,  "  we  parted ;  but  God  pursued  him  from  the  very 
door,  and  gave  him  no  rest ;  before  twelve  o'clock  that 
night  he  was  out  of  bed  on  the  floor  at  prayer.  In 
about  two  months  his  soul  was  set  at  liberty,  and  he  is  a 
member  of  our  Church  at  the  pi-esent  period."  At 
one  of  his  appointments  near  his  residence  one  of 
his  friends  (a  Quaker)  and  his  family  attended.  "  Before 
I  concluded,"  he  says,  "himself,  his  wife,  son,  and 
daughter,  were  all  struck  under  conviction,  and  never 
rested  until  they  aU  found  rest  to  their  souls  and  joined 
our  Society.  About  six  months  after  the  son  died  in  a 
triumph  of  faith ;  the  father  was  taken  ill  at  the  funeral 
and  never  went  out  of  his  house  again,  until  carried  to 
his  grave.  He  departed  this  life  praising  God  in  a  trans- 
port of  joy.  By  this  time  there  was  a  general  alarm 
spread  through  the  neighborhood.  We  had  prayer- 
meetings,  two  or  three  times  a  week,  and  at  almost  every 
meeting  some  were  either  convinced  or  converted.  Next 
morning  a  young  man  came  to  my  house  to  know  what 
he  must  do  to  be  saved.  I  applied  the  promises  of  the 
Gospel,  and  then  prayed,  and  after  me  my  \vLfe,  and  then 
my  daughter  Martha,  While  supplicating  the  throne  of 
grace  on  his  behalf,  the  Lord,  in  his  infinite  goodness, 
spoke  peace  to  his  soul,  and  we  were  all  made  partakers 
of  the  blessing.  He  joined  Society,  lived  several  years, 
and  died  clapping  his  hands,  and  shouting,  '  Glory  to 
God !  I  am  going  home !' " 


392  HISTORY    OF    THE 

Such  humble  labors  with  such  positive  results  (how 
ever  fasti<liously  we  may  criticise  their  incidental  irregu- 
larities) couM  not  fail  of  a  general  impression.  The 
Society  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  residence  increased ; 
hitherto  he  had  preached  to  them  under  the  trees  of  the 
forest ;  he  now  projected  his  chapel,  and  Methodism  was 
thus  securely  founded  in  that  vicinity,  and  spread  out 
dominantly  into  many  neighboring  to\Niis. 

For  some  time  Abbott  had  been  intimate  with  James 
Sterling,  Esq.,  of  whom  the  historian  of  the  denomination, 
in  New  Jersey,  says  that  probably  no  layman  in  the  state 
*'  ever  did  more  to  advance  religion  and  Methodism.''* 
A  merchant  of  rare  ability  and  great  wealth,  an  officer 
in  the  American  Revolution,  a  citizen  of  universal  es- 
teem and  influence,  this  zealous  laym.an  devoted  himself 
to  the  new  Churfh  in  the  day  of  its  deepest  humility. 
lie  accompanied  Abbott  in  many  of  his  excursions,  and 
often  exhorted  in  his  congregations.  His  house  at  Bur- 
lington was  the  home  of  not  only  Methodist  itinerants, 
but  of  Christian  ministers  of  all  denominations.  His 
friend.  Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper,  says  that  "  It  is  believed 
he  has  entertained  in  his  house  and  contribute<l  toward 
the  support  of  more  preachers  of  the  Gospel  than  any 
other  man  in  the  state,  if  not  in  the  United  States." 
For  half  a  century  he  thus  consecrated  his  home  and  his 
secular  business  to  the  promotion  of  religion.^ 

In  the  latter  part  of  1780  Abbott  writes:  "  I  had  been 
jiressed  in  spirit  for  some  time  to  visit  Pennsylvania,  and, 
in  the  love  and  fear  of  God,  I  set  out  with  my  life  in  my 
hand,  it  being  a  time  when  war  was  raging  through  the 

»  Atkinson's  Memorials  of  Methodism  in  New  Jersey.  1860,  p.  157. 
Atkinson  says  that  Sterling  was  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Asbu- 
ry  ;  Lednam  says  under  that  of  Abbott. 

•  He  died  in  the  t'uitb,  Jan.,  ISIS,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age.  His 
oatae  is  still  familiar  and  revered  among  Methodists  in  New  Jersey. 


'^MGRJIVEJj  BY  IB.  WBLCMFFnUAN  aPIGINAi,  J/l^ 


0  1^  CG 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHJRCH.        398 

land."  He  crossed  the  Delaware  at  New  Castle,  and 
opened  his  mission  in  that  town  to  "  a  pack  of  ruffians  " 
who  had  met  to  mob  him.  One  of  them  stood  before 
him  with  a  bottle  of  rum  in  his  hand,  threatening  to 
throw  it  at  his  head.  Abbott  preached  on,  however, 
dealing  out  to  them  "  the  terrors  of  the  law  "  in  a  man- 
ner he  had  seldom  done  before.  At  his  second  appoint- 
ment, in  "Wilmington,  the  usual  "  physical  phenomena  " 
of  his  preaching  took  place ;  one  of  his  hearers  fell  to 
the  floor.  He  pressed  forward,  preaching  daily.  On  his 
way  to  a  place  near  Newark,  Del.,'  not  knowing  his 
route,  he  stopped  at  a  house  to  inquire  about  it ;  his  in- 
formant promised  to  accompany  him,  remarking  that  a 
Methodist  itinerant  was  to  be  there  that  day,  and  that 
his  own  preacher  designed  to  meet  and  entrap  the  in- 
truder. A  neighbor,  who  was  a  constable,  soon  joined 
them ;  "  so,"  writes  Abbott,  "  we  set  off,  and  they  soon 
fell  into  conversation  about  the  preacher,  having  no  idea 
of  ray  being  the  man,  as  I  never  wore  black,  or  any  kind 
of  garb  that  indicated  my  being  a  preacher,  and  so  I  rode 
unsuspected.  The  constable,  being  a  very  profane  man, 
swore  by  all  the  gods  he  had,  good  and  bad,  that  he 
would  lose  his  right  arm  from  his  body  if  the  Methodist 
pi'eacher  did  not  go  to  jail  that  day.  This  was  the 
theme  of  their  discourse.  My  mind  was  greatly  exer- 
cised on  the  occasion,  and  what  added,  as  it  were,  double 
weight,  I  was  a  stranger  in  a  strange  place,  where  I  knew 
no  one.  When  we  arrived  at  the  place  appointed  I  saw 
about  two  hundred  horses  hitched.  I  also  hitched  mine, 
and  retired  into  the  woods,  where  I  prayed  and  cov- 
enanted with  God  on  my  knees,  that  if  he  stood  by  me 
in  this   emergency  I  would  be  more  for  hira,  through 

'  As  usual  he  gives  us  few  names  of  places ;  Lednum  identifies  them, 
p.  285,  et  seq. 


894  HISTORY    OF    THE 

grace,  than  ever  I  had  been.  I  then  arose  and  went  to 
my  horse  with  a  peifect  resignation  to  the  will  of  God, 
whether  for  death  or  for  jail.  I  took  my  satldle-bags  and 
went  to  the  house ;  the  man  took  me  into  a  private  room 
and  desired  I  would  ]»reach  in  favor  of  the  wa'-,  as  I  was 
in  a  Presbyterian  settlement.  I  replied  I  should  preach 
as  God  should  direct  me.  He  appeared  very  uneasy  and 
left  me  ;  just  before  preaching  he  came  in  again  and 
renewed  his  request  that  I  would  preach  up  for  war ;  I 
replied  as  before,  and  then  followed  him  out  among  the 
people,  where  he  made  proclamation  as  follows:  'Gen- 
tlemen, this  house  is  my  own,  an«l  no  one  shall  be  inter- 
rupted in  my  house  in  time  of  his  discourse,  but  after  be 
has  done  you  may  do  as  you  please.'  Thank  God,  said  I 
softly,  that  I  have  liberty  once  more  to  warn  sinners  be- 
fore I  die.  I  then  took  my  stand,  and  the  house  was  so 
crowded  that  no  one  could  sit  down.  Some  hundreds 
were  round  about  the  door.  I  stood  about  two  or  three 
feet  from  the  constable  who  had  sworn  so  bitterly. 
When  he  saw  that  I  was  the  man  he  had  abused  on  the 
way,  with  so  many  threats  and  oaths,  his  countenance 
fell  and  he  turned  pale.  I  gave  out  a  hymn,  but  no  one 
offered  to  sing ;  I  sung  four  lines  and  kneeled  down  and 
prayed.  When  I  arose  I  preached  with  great  liberty. 
I  felt  such  power  from  God  rest  upon  me  that  I  was 
above  the  fear  of  either  men  or  devils,  not  regarding 
whether  death  or  jail  should  be  my  lot.  Looking  for- 
ward I  saw  a  decent  looking  man  trembling,  and  his 
tears  flowing  in  abundance,  which  I  soon  discovered  was 
the  case  with  many  others.  After  preaching,  I  told  them 
I  exjiccted  they  wanted  to  know  by  what  authority  I  had 
come  into  that  country  to  preach.  I  then  told  them  my 
conviction  and  conversion,  the  place  of  my  nativity,  and 
place  of  residence ;  also,  my  call  to  the  ministry,  and  that 


r~ 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        895 

seven  years  I  had  labored  in  God's  vineyard;  that  I 
spent  my  own  money  and  found  my  own  clothes,  and 
that  it  was  the  love  that  I  had  for  their  souls,  for  whom 
Christ  died,  that  had  induced  me  to  come  among  them 
at  the  risk  of  my  life,  and  exhorted  them  to  fly  to  Jesus 
for  safety ;  that  all  things  were  ready ;  to  seek,  and  they 
should  find,  to  knock,  and  it  should  be  opened  unto 
them.  By  this  time  the  people  were  generally  melted 
into  tears.  I  then  concluded,  and  told  them  on  that  day 
two  weeks  they  might  expect  preaching  again.  I 
mounted  my  horse  and  set  out  with  a  friendly  Quaker 
for  a  pilot.  We  had  not  rode  above  fifty  yards  when  I 
heard  one  hallooing  after  us.  I  looked  back  and  saw 
about  fifty  running  toward  us.  I  then  concluded  that  to 
jail  I  must  go.  We  stopped,  and  when  they  came  up, 
'  I  crave  your  name,'  said  one ;  I  told  him,  and  so  we 
parted.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  the 
person  that  I  had  taken  notice  of  in  time  of  preaching, 
observing  him  to  be  in  great  anxiety  of  mind.  No 
one  oflfered  me  any  violence ;  but  they  committed  the 
next  preacher,  on  that  day  two  weeks,  to  the  common 
jail.  I  went  home  with  the  kind  Quaker,  where  I  tarried 
all  night.  I  found  that  he  and  his  wife  were  under 
serious  impressions,  and  had  had  Methodist  preaching  at 
their  house.  They  were  very  kind,  and  we  spent  the 
evening  in  conversing  on  the  things  of  God." 

He  soon  penetrated  to  Soudersburg,  a  German  settle- 
ment, where  "the  Lord  wrought  wonders;  divers  fell  to 
the  floor,  and  several  found  peace.  Many  tarried  to  hear 
what  I  had  seen  through  the  land  of  the  wonderful  works 
of  God.  The  people  cried  aloud,  and  continued  all  night 
in  prayer."  He  was  welcomed  by  Rev.  Martin  Boehm, 
in  Lancaster  County.  Boehm,  as  we  have  seen,  was  one 
of  the  founders,  and  at  last  one  of  the  bishops  of  the 


396  HISTORY    OF    THE 

•'German  Methodists,"  or,  "Uuited  Brethren."  Straw- 
bridge  had  visited  and  labored  with  liim  ;  Peter  All- 
hriglit,  founder  of  the  "  Allbright  Mothodists,"  was  one 
of  the  good  German's  converts.  Boehm  had  formed  a 
sort  of  circuit,  consisting  of  four  appointments  ;  one  of 
those,  near  his  residence,  was  made  a  reguhir  preaching 
place  for  the  Methodist  itinerants,  and  his  own  house 
was  tlu'ir  hospitable  home.  The  region  became  a  strong- 
hold of  Methodism.  Asbury  visited  it  often  ;  Boehm  was 
one  of  his  most  confidential  friends  and  counselors,  and 
hi-^  son,  Henry  Boehm,  joined  the  Methodist  itinerancy, 
and  became  the  bishop's  traveling  companion.^ 

Abbott  was  accompanied  to  Boehm's  Village  by  quite 
a  procession,  twenty  at  least  of  the  zealous  Mctliodists  of 
Stiudersl>urg  following  him  ori  the  route.  His  intrdduc- 
tion  to  this  new  scene  was  attended,  in  an  extraordinary 
maniuT,  by  those  "physical  demonstrations"  which  had 
occurred  under  his  preaching  in  Xew  Jersey,  and  which 
were  comparatively  imknown  among  these  quiet,  rustic 
people.  They  began  spontaneously  as  soon  as  he  ap- 
peared among  them.  "  When  I  cjime  to  my  ajipoint- 
ment,"  he  says,  "  the  power  of  the  Lord  carae  in  such  a 
manner  that  the  poojilo  fell  all  about  the  house,  and  their 
cries  might  be  heard  afar  off.  This  alarmed  the  wicked, 
who  sprang  for  the  doors."  To  tranquilize  the  excite- 
ment, he  read  a  hymn  and  called  upon  a  friend  to  raise 
the  tune;  but  a.s  soon  as  the  latter  attempteil  it  he  was 


•  Henry  Boohm  still  survives,  (H'U,)  one  of  the  moat  venerated  pa- 
triarchs of  Methodism.  Martin  Boehm  is  described  as  a  saintly  and 
very  useful  preacher.  "He  continued  to  wear  his  beard  at  full  len^h, 
nuver  shaving  his  chin ;  bis  white  locks  and  fresh  countenance  gave  liim 
a  venerable  aspect  in  old  age.  He  lived  to  be  almost  niiiyty  years  old, 
and  died  suddenly  some  time  in  March,  ISU.  Soon  after,  Bishop  As- 
bur>-  preached  a  funeral  discourse  at  his  chapel,  where  he  is  buried, 
giving  the  interesting  particulars  of  his  life." — Ltdnum,  p.  24'J. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         897 

Btruck  down,  and  lay  as  a  dead  man.  Another  repeated 
the  attempt,  but  fell  in  like  manner.  Abbott  himself 
then  began  to  sing,  but,  he  says,  "  as  soon  as  I  began, 
the  power  of  God  came  upon  me  in  such  a  manner  that 
I  cried  out,  and  was  amazed.  Prayer  was  all  through 
the  house,  up-stairs  and  down."  The  veteran  Boehm 
looked  on  with  wonder,  and  exclaimed  that  it  was  a 
return  of  the  apostolic  Pentecost.  After  some  time 
Abbott  and  he  retired  for  refreshment,  preparatory  for  a 
watch-night  service,  which  was  to  begin  at  five  o'clock. 
On  their  return  they  found  prostrate  multitudes  weeping, 
praying,  or  apparently  dead,  in  all  parts  of  the  house. 
In\ariably,  as  they  recovered  their  self-j^ossession,  they 
appeared  in  unimpaired  health,  uttering  rapturous  adora- 
tions. Boehm,  and  other  German  preachers,  shared  in 
the  exercises  of  the  watch-night.  Under  the  discourse  of 
Abbott  many  fell  to  the  floor,  and  many  fled  out  of  the 
house.  The  services  continued  all  night.  At  sunrise 
the  next  morning  some  were  still  lingering  in  prayer. 
A  sensation  spread  through  all  the  regions  round  about, 
and  scores  of  the  people  followed  the  wonderful  itinerant 
to  his  next  appointment. 

History  cannot  ignore  these  facts,  to  whatever  doubt 
ful  construction  they  may  be  liable.  Science,  physio- 
logical, psychological,  and  theological,  claims  them  as  her 
data  for  future  and  important  inquiries.  If  it  be  said 
that  they  arose  from  some  peculiarity  of  the  physical 
temperament  of  the  preacher ;  that  men  of  equal  piety 
and  superior  ability,  passing  over  these  same  regions, 
never  produced  them;  that  Asbury  himself,  gathering 
into  the  denomination  its  most  valuable  members  at  this 
period,  seldom  or  never  witnessed  them  as  effects  of  his 
own  powerful  ministry ;  still  these  suggestions  do  not 
solve  them,  nor  impeach  the  moral  efficacy  of  Abbott's 


398  HISTORY    OF    THE 

preaching.  Hundreds  of  reprobate  men  were  reformed 
amid  such  scenes,  and,  after  long  and  holy  lives,  died 
rej)cating,  iii  their  last  utteran'  es,  the  shouts  of  praise 
which  at  tliese  meetings  appeared  clamorous  disorders. 
If  they  are  condemned  as  human  infirmities,  still  may 
there  not  be  a  genuine  operation  of  divine  grace  amid, 
and  in  spite  of,  such  inHrmities,  and  is  it  indeed  possible 
that  so  profound  a  revolution  as  the  awakening  and 
regeneration  of  the  human  soul  can  take  place  without 
mvolving  more  or  less  its  infirmities?  Even  if  these 
anomalous  efl'ects  be  attributed  to  a  j)eculiar  physical 
j>ower  of  Abbott,  still  dues  such  a  fact  render  question- 
able the  genuineness  of  the  moral  effects  of  his  ministry  ? 
Are  not  the  natural,  even  the  physical  j)eculiarities  of 
public  speakers,  legitimate  sources  of  their  power — their 
vocal  peculiarities,  the  sensibility  of  their  temperaments 
for  pathos,  su])limity,  or  fear  ?  And  if  there  be,  in  the 
human  constitution,  some  yet  unascertained  power  of 
sympathetic  action  on  surrounding  minds,  may  not  this 
be  sanctifii-d  and  used  l»y  the  divine  Sj)irit,  as  are  other 
physical  or  mental  (qualifications,  especially  in  extraor- 
dinary periods,  like  that  through  which  Methodism  was 
now  awakening  tlie  land  ami<l  flemuralization  antl  war? 
If  it  be  said  tliat  such  extraordinary  excitements  need 
peculiar  repressive  caution,  Methodists  generally  assent, 
believing,  however,  with  one  of  their  highest  authorities, 
already  cited,  that  the  exercise  of  discipline  in  such  cases, 
while  it  "  should  be  firm,  should  also  be  <liscriminating, 
fur  the  siike  of  the  real  blessing,"  which  may  be  attend- 
ing the  preaching  of  the  truth. 

Abbott  passed  on  to  his  next  appointment  convoyed 
by  fort/  persons.  "  God  there  laid  to  his  helping  hand. 
Many  cried  aloud  for  mercy ;  many  wej»t  around  "  him 
when  he  dismissed  them :  "  some  were  truly  awakened. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        399 

and  others  deeply  convicted."  He  had  written  to  his 
friend  James  Sterling,  of  Burlington,  giving  an  account 
of  the  wonders  of  his  journey,  and  inviting  him  to 
hasten  to  his  help.  Sterling  reached  him  at  Upper 
Octorara,  and,  though  a  layman,  worked  energetically 
with  him ;  and  at  times  his  own  vigorous  mind  was  so 
overpowered  by  the  prevailing  excitement  that  he  too 
fell,  as  dead,  among  the  many  who  were  slain  by  the 
mighty  word  of  the  preacher.  At  their  first  appoint- 
ment the  house  was  crowded,  and  many  fell  to  the  floor. 
An  aged  Presbyterian  accosted  Abbott,  and  declared  the 
strange  scene  to  be  diabolical.  "  If  it  be  so,"  he  replied, 
"  when  these  people  revive  they  will  prove  it  by  their 
language ;  wait  and  see."  "  Soon  after  one  of  them  came 
to,  and  he  began  to  praise  God  with  a  loud  voice ;  and 
soon  another,  and  so  on,  until  divers  of  them  bore  testi- 
mony for  Jesus.  '  Hark,  hark,'  said  I  to  my  old  oppo- 
nent, '  brother,  do  you  hear  them  ?  this  is  not  the  lan- 
guage of  hell,  but  the  language  of  Canaan.'  I  then  ap- 
pointed prayer-meeting  at  a  friend's  house  in  the  neigh- 
borhood. After  the  people  had  gathered  I  saw  my  old 
opponent  among  them,  I  gave  out  a  hymn,  and  Brother 
Sterling  prayed,  and  after  him  myself.  I  had  spoken  but 
a  few  words  before  Brother  Sterling  fell  to  the  floor,  and 
soon  after  him  every  soul  in  the  house,  except  myself 
and  my  old  Presbyterian  opponent,  and  two  others.  I 
arose  and  gave  an  exhortation,  and  the  two  men  fell,  one 
as  if  he  had  been  shot,  and  then  there  was  every  soul 
down  in  the  house,  except  myself  and  my  old  opponent. 
He  began  immediately  to  dispute  the  point,  telling  me  it 
was  all  delusion,  and  the  work  of  Satan.  I  told  him  to 
stand  still  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord.  As  they 
came  to  they  all  praised  God."  The  next  morning  Ster- 
ling and  others  were  again  prostrated  in  a  prayer-meet- 


400  HISTOKY    OF    THE 

ing.  They  hastened  to  another  appointment,  where 
Abbott  was  again  surprised  to  observ-e  his  "  Presby- 
terian opponent."  In  a  few  minutes  afler  the  sermon 
Vtpgan  an  alarm  was  given  in  the  congregation.  "I 
looked  around,"  says  Abbott,  "  and  saw  it  was  from 
my  old  opponent.  He  was  trembling  like  Bclshazzar. 
I  told  them  to  let  him  alone  and  to  look  to  themselves, 
for  it  was  the  power  of  God  that  had  arrested  him. 
They  let  him  go,  and  down  he  fell  as  one  dead.  Next 
morning  we  went  to  our  appointment,  where  we  had  a 
large  congregation.  Looking  round  I  saw  my  old  Pres- 
byterian friend  again.  This  was  nine  miles  distance  from 
my  former  appointment.  I  felt  great  freedom  in  speak- 
ing. A  woman  began  to  shake  in  a  powerful  manner, 
and  fell  nn  the  floor.  I  bid  them  to  look  to  themselves, 
and  went  on  with  my  discourse.  Some  wept,  some 
sighed,  and  some  groaned.  When  I  dismissed  the  peo- 
ple, not  one  offered  to  go.  I  gave  them  au  exhortation : 
they  wept  all  through  the  house.  I  then  said,  '  If  any 
can  speak  for  God,  say  on,  for  I  can  sj>cak  no  more.' 
Who  should  arise  but  my  old  Presbyterian  opponent, 
and  began  with  informing  them  that  he  was  not  one  of 
thi>*  sect ;  that  he  had  been  with  me  four  days,  and  that 
lie  never  had  seen  the  power  of  God  in  this  way  before ; 
and  added,  '  It  is  the  power  of  God !'  and  gave  a  warm 
exhortation  for  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour." 

Abbott  and  his  companion.  Sterling,  continued  their 
travels  and  labors  without  intermission,  almost  every- 
where attended  with  such  remarkable  scenes.  They 
passed  over  all  the  ground,  then  cultivated  by  Method- 
ism in  Pennsylvania,  except  Philadelphia,  Bethel,  (Mont- 
gomery County,)  and  Germantown.^  In  about  thirty 
days  he  had  preachctl   twenty-nine   sermons,  and  held 

•  Lednum,  p.  292. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.      401 

nearly  twenty  other  meetings.     Scores,  if  not  hundreds, 
of  his  hearers  were  awakened  or  converted.     Large  dis- 
tricts of  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania  were  aroused  with 
astonishment  and  religious  interest.      He   returned  by 
way   of   Wilmington   and   New   Castle,   so    exhausted 
that  when  he  reached  his  home  his  friend  supposed  he 
"  could  never  preach  again ;"   but  it  was  not  long  before 
he  was  again  crossing  the  Delaware,  on  his  way  to  Kent 
Circuit,  Maryland,  now  traveled  by  his  son,  David  Abbott. 
There  the  same  singular  power  attended  his  word,  kind- 
ling  extraordinary  interest  from  town  to  town.      He 
opened  his  commission  at  Elkton.     It  is  the  first  time 
that   we    hear    of  Methodism    in    that    neighborhood. 
There  was  no  class  there  at  the  time.    He  next  appeared 
at  the  head  of  the  Sassafras  River,  where  he  had  a  "  pow- 
erful time."     "  Some  were  awakened,  and  inquired  what 
they  must  do  to  be  saved ;"  and  he  rejoiced  to  find  a 
small   class   already   gathered.      The  next   day   "God 
attended  the  word  with  power ;  many  wept,  both  blacks 
and  whites."     In  the  Class-meeting  "  many  fell  to  the 
floor,  among  whom  was  the  man  of  the  house."     The  fol- 
lowing day,  being  Sunday,  similar  effects  attended  him  in 
a  barn ;  the  people  fell  as  if  shot  in  battle,  while  "  others 
cried  for  mercy."   He  was  now  on  Bohemia  Manor,  so  nota- 
ble a  place  in  early  Methodism.    At  another  appointment, 
the  same  day,  more  than  a  thousand  hearers  gathered 
around  him  in  the  woods.     "  The  Lord  preached  from 
heaven  in  his  Spirit's  power,  and  the  people  fell  on  the 
right  and  on  the  left.     Many  were  ready  to  flee."    He 
told  them  "  to  stand  still  and  look  to  themselves,  for  God 
Almighty  is  come  into  the  camp."     They  kept  their 
places,  and  he  continued  to  invite  them  "to  fly  to  Jesus  for 
safety.    It  was  a  great  day  to  many  souls."    He  hastened  to 
bis  afternoon  appointment,  leaving  the  slain  and  wounded 
A— 26 


402  HISTORY    OF    THE 

on  the  field.  At  the  next  place  he  found  "  a  large  con- 
gregation assembled,"  and  preached  "  with  great  liberty; 
many  fell  to  the  earth,  both  white  and  black,  some  as 
dead  men,"  while  others  "  cried  aloud  to  God."  Thus  ho 
continued,  from  place  to  place,  with  scarcely  varying 
effect,  till  he  arrived  near  Kent  Meeting-hoiise,  (Hinson's 
Chapel,)  where  a  still  more  remarkable  scene  occurred. 
Many  hundreds  were  collected  at  a  funeral  service,  which 
was  conducted  by  a  church  clergyman,  who,  after  the  usual 
forms  and  a  sermon,  invited  Abbott  to  address  the  assem- 
bly. A  tempest  had  been  rising,  covering  the  heavens ; 
"  two  clouds  appeared  to  aj)proach  from  different  quarters 
and  met  over  the  house.  The  people  crowded  in,  up-stairs 
and  down,  to  screen  themselves  from  the  storm.  With 
some  difficulty  the  evangelist  ma<le  his  w.ay  through  the 
tlironcr,  ami  took  his  stand  on  one  of  the  benches. 
Almost  as  soon  as  he  "  began,  the  Lord  out  of  heaven 
began  also."  The  tremendous  claps  of  thtmder  exceeded 
anything  he  had  ever  heard,  and  the  streams  of  lightning 
flashed  through  the  house  in  "a  most  awful  manner.  Tlie 
very  foundations  shook,  the  windows  jarred  with  the  vio- 
lence thereof"  Tie  lost  no  time,  but  "set  before  them 
the  awful  coming  of  Christ,  in  all  his  splendor,  with  all 
the  armies  of  heaven,  to  judge  the  world,  and  to  take 
vengeance  on  the  ungodly."  The  people  wept,  cried 
aloud,  and  fell  all  through  the  house.  One  "  old  sinner  " 
attempted  to  escape,  but  fell  to  the  floor  as  dead.  The 
lightning,  thunder,  and  rain  "continued  for  about  one 
hour  in  the  most  awful  manner  ever  known  in  that  coun- 
try," during  which  time  he  continued  to  "  set  before  the 
people  the  coming  of  Christ  to  judge  the  world,  warning 
and  inviting  them  to  flee  to  him." 

Many  were  "  convinced  and  many  converted  "  on  that 
great  day.     Fourteen  years  later,  while  Abbott  was  pass- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        403 

ing  through  the  same  region,  he  met  "  twelve  living  wit- 
nesses," who  informed  him  that  they  dated  their  salvation 
from  it,  and  enumerated  others  who  had  died  in  the  faith, 
and  some  who  had  moved  out  of  the  neighborhood,  who 
began  their  Christian  Hfe  at  that  memorable  time.  It 
was  long  an  occasion  of  general  interest  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  old  Methodists  of  Kent  County  were  accus- 
tomed to  speak  with  wonder  of  what  they  called  "  Ab- 
bott's thunder-gust  sermon."  "  Between  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  from  heaven  and  the  voice  of  his  servant  in  the 
house,  the  people  had  never  known  such  a  time."'° 
Sterling  again  joined  him  in  this  neighborhood,  and  they 
pursued  together  their  travels  and  labors  from  town 
to  town,  among  whites  and  blacks,  attended  constantly 
with  these  astonishing  demonstrations.  After  a  fort- 
night, during  which  the  whole  territory  of  Kent  Circuit 
had  been  aroused  with  interest,  they  returned  to  New 
Jersey.  "  I  desire,"  wrote  Abbott  when  again  under  his 
own  humble  roof,  "  to  be  ever  truly  thankful  to  the  great 
Author  of  all  good,  who  has  brought  me  in  safety  to 
my  habitation  in  peace,  and  has  attended  his  unworthy 
dust,  when  absent  m  his  service,  with  his  Spirit's  power, 
for  which  my  soul  adores  the  God  and  Rock  of  ray  sal- 
vation." 

In  October,  1782,  this  tireless  laborer  was  again  in 
Delaware,  relieving  his  son  on  Dover  Circuit,  and  scenes, 
equally  extraordinary  with  those  already  cited,  were  of 
almost  daily  occurrence,  as  he  advanced  from  town  to 
town ;  the  same  questionable  physical  effects,  the  same 
unquestionable  moral  results.  His  simple  logic  respect- 
ing the  former  sometimes  hesitated,  but  not  long.  He 
records  an  instance  which  affords  a  fuller  description  than 
has  yet  been  given  of  the  symptoms  of  this  "  religious 
»<>  Lednum,  p.  321,  who  identifies  the  localities. 


404  HISTORY    OF    THE 

catalepsy.""  "Next  day  I  went,"  he  writes,  "to  my 
appointment,  where  I  was  informed  the  children  of  the 
devil  were  greatly  offended,  and  intended  that  day  to 
kill  me ;  here  I  had  a  crowded  congregation.  The  wonl 
was  attended  with  power.  Several  attempted  to  go  out, 
Imt  the  crowd  about  the  door  oMiged  them  to  stay  in. 
Tliey  began  quickly  to  fiill  to  the  floor  and  to  cry  aloud. 
One  young  man  that  was  struck  to  the  floor  was  for 
three  hours  apparently  dead  ;  his  flesh  grew  cold,  his 
fingers  so  stiff,  and  si)read  open,  that  they  would  not 
yield.  His  blood  was  stagnated  to  his  elbows.  Many 
said,  Fie  is  dead.  I  now  began  to  be  greatly  exercised, 
it  being  the  first  time  T  ever  had  any  fears  that  any  one 
would  expire  under  the  mighty  power  of  God.  Very 
groat  and  various  were  my  exercises  at  this  time,  and  I 
concluded  I  would  go  home,  and  not  proceed  a  step 
further,  as  killing  people  would  not  answer;  but  at  last 
he  came  to,  and  as  soon  as  he  could  speak  he  praised  God 
for  what  he  had  done  for  his  soul !" 

If  he  met  with  opj)Osition,  as  he  often  did,  from  his 
own  brethren,  on  account  of  these  startling  effects  of  his 
discourses,  he  was  only  the  more  confirmed  in  his  own 
honest  interpretation  of  them  by  his  opjionents  them- 
selves ;  for  they  jisually  became  the  most  striking  exam- 
ples of  his  raysteriotis  power.     He  records,  in  this  excur- 

•' Such  is  the  titlf  given  to  these  marvels  by  a  Metbodlst  authority 
who  ha-i  ■iiscusfiod  them  with  mfrc  scientific  ability  than  any  othor 
writer  that  I  have  met  with.  (See  Mcth.  Quart.  Rev.,  April,  1859.) 
"  To  be  thrown,"  he  says,  "  into  the  cataleptic  etato  in  conversion  is  no 
criterion  of  the  gcnnineniss  of  that  change.  The  proof  most  be  sought, 
an^l  will  be  found,  elsewhere.  Religious  catalep.'<y  is  not  a  safe  stand- 
ard by  which  to  estimate  a  religious  state,  growth  in  grace,  or  personal 
piety  in  any  stage  of  experience.  Because  the  same  amount  of  diviue 
influence  shed  upon  a  person,  under  one  cla.ss  of  circumstances,  which 
would  result  in  catalepsy,  would  to  another  person  in  the  same  circum- 
stances, and  to  the  same  person  in  other  circumstances,  be  followed  by 
no  such  result." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        405 

sion,  an  appointment  in   a  Methodist  local   preacher's 
house  ;  "  he  having  heard  what  was  going  on,  began  to 
tell  me  he  looked  upon  it  all  as  confusion,  for  that  God 
was  a  God  of  order.     However,  the  people  gathered, 
and  I  preached.      The  power  of  God  seized  a  woman 
sitting  before  me ;  she  began  to  tremble  and  fell  to  the 
floor.     Many  wept.     I  had  not  spoken  long  before  the 
slain  and  wounded  lay  all  through  the  house,  and  among 
the  rest,  the  local  preacher ;  some  crying  for  mercy,  and 
others  praising  God  for  what  he  had  done  for  them, 
testifymg  that  he  had  justified  them,  and  set  their  souls 
at  liberty.     I  desired  the  class  to  stop,  and  I  spoke  first 
to  the  local  preacher.     What  do  you  think  of  it  now,  my 
brother — is  it  the  work  of  God  or  not?     O  !  said  he,  I 
never  thought  that  God  would  pour  out  his  Spirit  in  such 
a  manner,  for  I  could  not  move  hand  or  foot,  any  more 
than  if  I  had  been  dead ;  but  I  am  as  happy  as  I  can  live." 
He  reached  Judge  White's  house,  where  he  met  As- 
bury  and  a  score  of  other  preachers,  on  their  way  to  a 
quarterly  meeting  at  Barratt's  Chapel.      The  itinerants 
were  astonished  at  the  simplicity  and  power  of  Abbott. 
His  sermon  in  the  chapel  was  overwhelming ;  some  of  the 
hearers  fell  to  the  floor,  others  fled  out   of  the  house, 
many  sobbed  and  prayed  aloud.     Asbury  sent  him  to 
a  neighboring  gentleman's  house  for  lodging  during  the 
night,  but  there,  while  at  family  prayers,  three  persons  fell, 
as  dead,  under  the  singing  of  a  hymn,  one  being  the  lady 
of  the  house,  and  under  the  prayer  "  several  others  "  were 
prostrated ;  the  "  man  of  the  house,  who  was  a  backslid- 
er, was  restored ;"  they  continued  in  prayer  three  hours. 
Of  course  the  love-feast  the  next  morning  was  a  joyous 
scene.     Abbott  had  never  been  in  so  large  and  goodly  a 
company  of  preachers.     The  crowd  of  people  was  great ; 
as  many  around  the  house  as  in  it.     "  It  was  a  precious 


406  HISTORY    OF    THE 

time — attended  with  power."  His  expedition  ended 
here;  it  had  been  successful,  and  he  returned  home  with 
a  tliankful  heart.  He  was  now  known  through  much  of 
the  land  as  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  preadurs  of 
Methodism — a  Boanerges — before  whom  gainsayers,  per- 
Becutors,  mobs,  either  }-ielded  or  were  prostrated.  He 
was  soon  to  leave  house  and  lands,  and,  entering  the 
*'  regular  itinerancy,"  extend  his  labors  and  triumphs  to 
other  parts  of  the  country,  where  we  shall  meet  him 
again. 

Meanwhile  one  of  the  most  distinguished  itinerants  of 
the  times  had  entered  the  field  in  the  South.'*  We  have 
already  seen  the  youthful  Jesse  Lee  introduced  into  the 
Church,  on  Robert  Williams's  Circuit,  in  Virginia,  a  con- 
vert in  the  great  revival  which  was  so  long  maintained 
by  William.s,  Jarratt,  and  their  fellow-laborers.  As  tliis 
great  awakening  advanced  in  1775,  he  says,  "I  felt  a 
Bweet  distress  in  my  soul  for  holiness  of  heart  and  life.  I 
sensibly  felt,  while  I  was  seeking  purity  of  heart,  that  I 
grew  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  God.  This  con- 
cern of  soul  lasted  some  time,  till  at  length  I  could  say,  I 
have  nothing  but  the  love  of  Christ  in  my  heart.  My 
soul  was  continually  happy  in  God.  Tlie  world  with  all 
its  charms  was  crucified  to  me,  and  I  crucified  to  the 
toorld.'''' 

Thus  endued  with  power  from  on  high,  while  yet  in 
his  eighteenth  year,  he  was  maturing  for  the  great  work 
before  him.  Several  occasions  for  the  exercise  of  bis 
gifts  in  public  exhortation  occurred  about  this  time,  but 
his  natural  diffidence  made  him  shrink  from  them,  and 
might  have  long  interfered  with  his  entrance  into  the 
ministry,  bad  not  domestic  circumstances  providentially 

"Thiil'8  Life  of  Lee;  and  Eev.  Dr.  L.  M.  Lee's  Life  and  Times  of 
Lee. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         407 

led,  in  1777,  to  his  removal  to  North  Carolina,  where, 
away  from  the  embarrassing  associations  of  his  native 
neighborhood,  he  felt  more  courage  for  such  untried 
efforts.  Here  he  was  appointed  a  class-leader,  and  was 
soon  exhorting  in  public.  In  1779  he  preached  his  first 
sermon  in  North  Carolina.  Endowed  with  quick  sensi- 
bility and  ready  utterance,  he  immediately  became  a 
popular  speaker ;  yet  he  writes,  "  I  was  so  sensible  of  my 
own  weakness  and  insufficiency  that,  after  I  had  preached, 
I  would  retire  to  the  woods  and  prostrate  myself  on  the 
ground,  and  weep  before  the  Lord,  praying  that  he  would 
pardon  the  imperfections  of  my  preaching,  and  give  me 
strength  to  declare  his  whole  counsel  in  purity." 

In  1780  his  destined  career,  as  a  preacher  of  Method- 
ism, seemed  about  to  be  defeated  by  an  unexpected  trial. 
He  was  drafted  into  the  Revolutionary  army,  and  was 
compelled  to  go  into  camp.  His  conscience  revolted 
from  war.  "  I  weighed  the  matter  over  and  over  again," 
he  says,  "  but  ray  mind  was  settled ;  as  a  Christian  and 
as  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  I  could  not  fight.  I  could 
not  reconcile  it  to  myself  to  bear  arms,  or  to  kill  one  of 
my  fellow-creatures.  However  I  determined  to  go,  and 
to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  accordingly  prepared  for  my 
journey."  He  was  nearly  two  weeks  on  his  way  to  the 
camp.  On  the  evening  that  he  came  in  sight  of  it  he 
"  lifted  up  his  heart  to  God,  and,"  he  adds,  "  besought  him 
to  take  my  cause  into  his  own  hands  and  support  me  in  the 
hour  of  trial."  He  was  ordered  on  parade.  The  ser- 
geant offered  him  a  gun,  but  he  would  not  take  it ;  the 
lieutenant  brought  him  another,  but  he  refused  it.  The 
lieutenant  reported  the  case  to  the  colonel,  and  returned 
again  with  a  gun  and  set  it  down  against  him ;  he  still 
declined  to  take  it ;  he  was  then  delivered  to  the  guard. 
The  colonel  came  and  remonstrated  with  him,  but  un- 


i08  HISTORY    OF    THE 

able  to  answer  his  objections,  left  him  again  to  the  cus- 
tody of  the  guard.  Far  away  from  his  brethren,  solitary 
amid  the  clamors  and  vices  of  the  camp,  considered  as  a 
fanatic  or  a  maniac,  he  knew  not  what  would  be  the 
issue  of  his  singular  condition,  but  he  was  determined  to 
obey  his  conscience,  to  test  Providence,  to  "  stand  still " 
in  the  strength  of  his  religious  faith,  "  and  see  the  salva- 
tion of  God." 

He  not  only  refused  to  violate  his  conscience  by  bear- 
ing arms,  be  remembered  that  he  was  panoplied  for  a 
higher  warfare,  and  imnii'tliately  set  himself  about  it. 
"  After  dark  I  told  the  guard,"  he  says,  "  we  must  pray 
before  we  sleep,  and,  there  being  a  Baptist  under  guard, 
I  a.sked  him  to  pray,  which  he  did.  I  then  told  the  peo- 
l>le  that  if  tliey  would  come  out  early  in  the  morning  I 
would  pray  with  them.  I  felt  remarkably  happy  in  God 
under  all  my  trouble,  and  did  not  doubt  but  that  I  should 
be  delivered  in  due  time.  Some  of  the  soldiers  brought 
me  straw  to  lay  upon,  and  offered  me  their  blankets  and 
great  coats  for  covei-ing.  I  slept  pretty  well  that  night, 
which  was  the  first  and  the  last  night  I  was  ever  under 
guard.  As  soon  as  it  was  light,  I  was  up  and  began  to 
sing;  some  hundreds  soon  assembled  and  joined  with 
me,  and  we  made  the  plantation  ring  with  the  songs 
of  Zion.  "We  then  knelt  down  and  prayed;  while  I  was 
praying  my  soul  was  happy  in  God  ;  I  wept  much  and 
prayed  loud,  and  many  of  the  poor  soldiers  also  wept. 
I  do  not  think  that  I  ever  felt  more  willing  to  suffer,  for 
the  sake  of  religion,  than  I  did  at  that  time." 

He  went  further.  A  neighboring  inn-keeper,  while  yet 
in  bed,  heard  his  early  prayer,  was  affected  to  tears,  and 
came  entreating  him  to  preach.  In  a  short  time  the  man 
of  God  was  standing  on  a  bench  near  the  tent  of  his  com 
manding  officer,  proclaiming  as  his  text,  Except  ye  repent^ 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CnURCH.       409 

ye  shall  all  likeioise  j^erish.'"  "I  was  enabled,"  he 
says,  "to  speak  plainly  and  without  fear;  and  I  wept 
while  endeavoring  to  declare  my  message.  Many  of 
the  people,  officers  as  well  as  men,  were  bathed  in  tears 
before  I  was  done.  That  meeting  afforded  me  an  ample 
reward  for  all  my  trouble.  At  its  close,  some  of  the 
gentlemen  went  about  with  their  hats,  to  make  a  col- 
lection of  money  for  me,  at  which  I  was  very  uneasy, 
and  ran  in  among  the  people  begging  them  to  desist." 
When  his  colonel  heard  of  his  preaching,  "  It  affected 
him  very  much,"  says  Lee,  "  so  he  came  and  took  me  out 
to  talk  with  me  on  the  subject  of  bearing  arms.  I  told 
him  I  could  not  kill  a  man  with  a  good  conscience,  but  I 
was  a  friend  to  my  country,  and  was  willing  to  do  any 
thing  I  could  while  I  continued  in  the  army,  except  that 
of  fighting.  He  then  asked  me  if  I  would  be  willing  to 
drive  their  baggage- Avagon.  I  told  him  I  would,  though 
I  had  never  driven  a  wagon  before.  He  said  their  main 
cook  was  a  Methodist,  and  could  drive  the  wagon  when 
we  were  on  a  march,  and  I  might  lodge  and  eat  with  him, 
to  which  I  agreed.     He  then  released  me  from  guard." 

For  neai'ly  four  months  was  he  detained  in  the  army, 
suffering  severe  privations  and  trials,  fatiguing  marches, 
want  of  food,  the  clamorous  profanity  of  the  camp, 
and  sickness  that,  in  one  instance,  endangered  his  life, 
but  during  which  he  was  "  comforted  to  find  that  he 
had  no  doubt  of  his  salvation,"  "  for,"  he  adds,  "  I  be- 
lieved that  should  the  Lord  see  fit  to  remove  me  from 
this  world,  I  should  be  called  to  join  the  armies  of 
heaven." 

During  these  sufferings  he  continued  to  preach  when- 
ever circumstances  admitted,  and  not  without  effect  on 
his  hardy  hearers.  "  Many  of  them,"  he  says  on  one  oc- 
casion, "  were  very  solemn,  and   some  of  them  wept 


410  HISTORY    OF    THE 

freely  under  the  preaching  of  the  word.  I  was  happy 
in  God,  and  tl)ankful  to  him  for  the  privilege  of  warning 
the  wicked  once  more.  It  was  a  great  cross  for  me  to  go 
forward  in  matters  of  so  much  importance,  where  there 
wore  few  to  encourage  and  many  to  oppose ;  but  T  knew 
that  I  had  to  give  an  account  to  God  for  my  conduct  in 
the  world ;  I  felt  the  responsibility  laid  upon  me,  and 
was  resolved  to  open  my  mouth  for  him.  I  often 
thought  I  had  more  cause  to  praise  and  adore  him  for 
his  goodness  than  any  other  person.  For  some  weeks  I 
hardly  ever  prayed  in  public,  or  preached,  or  reproved  a 
sinner,  without  seeing  some  good  eflbcts  produced  by  my 
labors."  Disease  prevailed  among  the  troops,  and 
many  died.  He  not  only  preached  to  them  on  Sundays, 
but  practically  became  their  chaplain,  gomg  among 
them  where  they  lay  in  bams,  talking  to  them  about, 
their  souls,  begging  them  to  prepare  to  meet  their  God, 
attending  the  funerals  of  those  who  died,  and  j)raying  at 
their  graves. 

For  more  than  a  year  after  his  discharge  from  the 
army  he  was  zealously  occupied  in  preaching  in  his 
native  neighborhood.  lie  was,  meanwhile,  frequently  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  it  was  his  duty  to  enter 
the  traveling  ministry,  but  hesitated,  under  a  conscious- 
ness of  the  responsibility  of  the  sacred  office.  In  this 
state  of  suspense  he  attended  the  session  of  an  Annual 
Conference,  held  at  Ellis's  Chapel,  in  Sussex  County, 
Va.,  April,  1782.  Tliirty  preachers  were  present,  a 
heroic  band  of  itinerant  evangelists.  The  spectacle  of 
these  devoted  and  self-sacrificing  men,  their  ardent  zeal 
for  God,  their  spnpathy  and  forbearance  for  each  oilier, 
touched  his  heart,  as  the  like  scene  often  has  tlie  hearts 
of  thousands  of  others.  He  thus  speaks  of  it:  "The 
union  and  brotherly  love  which  I  saw  among  the  preach- 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        411 

ers  exceeded  everything  I  had  ever  seen  before,  and 
caused  me  to  wish  that  I  was  worthy  to  have  a  place 
among  them.  When  they  took  leaA-e  of  each  other,  I 
observed  that  they  embraced  each  other  in  their  arms, 
and  wept  as  though  they  never  expected  to  meet  again. 
Had  heathens  been  there  they  might  have  well  said, 
'  See  how  these  Christians  love  one  another  !'  By  reason 
of  what  I  saw  and  heard  during  the  fotir  days  that  the 
Conference  sat,  I  found  my  heart  truly  humbled  in  the 
dust,  and  my  desires  greatly  increased  to  love  and  serve 
God  more  perfectly  than  I  had  ever  done  before.  At 
the  close  of  the  Cojiference,  Mr.  Asbury  came  to  me  and 
asked  me  if  I  was  willing  to  take  a  circuit.  I  told  him 
that  I  could  not  well  do  it,  but  signified  that  I  was  at  a 
loss  to  know  what  was  best  for  me  to  do.  I  was  afraid 
of  hurting  the  cause  which  I  wished  to  promote,  for  I  was 
very  sensible  of  my  own  weakness.  At  last  he  called  to 
some  of  the  preachers  standing  in  the  yard,  a  little  way 
off,  and  said,  'I  am  going  to  enlist  Brother  Lee.'  One 
of  them  replied,  '  What  bounty  do  you  give  ?'  He 
answered,  '  Grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter,  will  be  given 
if  he  is  faithful.'  Some  of  the  preachers  then  talked  to 
me,  and  persuaded  me  to  go ;  but  I  trembled  at  the 
thought,  and  shuddered  at  the  cross,  and  did  not  at  that 
time  consent." 

Though  thus  hesitating,  he  went  home  and  jDrepared 
his  temporal  affairs,  that  he  might  be  able  to  obey  the 
divine  call,  and  enter  more  fully  upon  what  he  now  began 
to  feel  was  the  destiny  of  his  life.  Before  the  end  of  the 
year  he  was  on  his  way,  with  a  colleague,  Edward  Drom 
goole,  to  North  Carolina,  to  form  a  new  and  extensive 
circuit.*'  The  next  year  he  was  appointed  to  labor  reg- 
is Well  known  afterward  as  Camden  Circuit.  Lee's  biographer  says, 
"  The  district  of  country  embraced  by  it  remains  to  the  present  time 


412  HISTORY    OF    THE 

iilarly  in  that  state  ;  and  being  now  fully  in  the  sphere  oi 
his  duty,  he  was  largely  blessed  with  the  comforts  of  the 
divine  favor,  and  went  through  the  extensive  rounds  of 
his  circuit  "  like  a  flame  of  fire."  Ilis  word  was  accom- 
panied with  the  authority  and  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Stout-hearted  men  were  smitten  down  under  it,  large 
congregations  were  often  melted  into  tears  by  irrepressi- 
ble emotions,  and  his  eloquent  voice  was  not  unfrequently 
lost  amid  the  sobs  and  ejaculations  of  his  audience. 
Often  his  own  deep  sympathies,  while  in  the  pulpit, 
could  find  relief  only  in  tears.  A  better  illustration  of 
his  character  as  a  preacher  cannot,  perhaps,  hv  cited  than 
the  profound  and  thrilling  eflfect  of  his  preaching  on  both 
himself  and  his  hearers.  lie  records  numerous  instances : 
"  I  preache*!  at  Mr.  Spain's  with  great  liberty  to  a  good 
congregation  ;  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  us,  and 
we  were  bathed  in  tears.  I  wept,  an<l  so  loud  were  the 
people's  cries  that  I  could  scarcely  be  heard,  though  I 
spoke  very  loud.  I  met  the  class  ;  most  of  the  members 
expressed  a  great  desire  for  holiness  of  heart  and  life, 
and  said  they  were  determined  to  seek  for  jterfect  love." 
"I  preached  at  Ilowel's  Chapel,  where  the  Lord  was 
pleased  once  more  to  visit  my  soul.  I  spoke  with  many 
tears,  and  was  very  happy.  The  hearers  wept  greatly. 
It  was  a  time  of  refreshing  from  the  presenc*^  of  the 
Lord.  "Wlien  I  met  the  class  the  people  could  hardly 
speak  for  weeping.  It  was  a  precious  day  to  my  soul." 
"  I  preached  at  Howel's  Chapel,  from  Ezek.  xxxiii,  1 1  : 
'  Say  unto  them.  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord,'  etc.  It  was 
to  me  a  time  of  uncommon  comfort.  When  I  came  to 
the  last  part  of  the  text,  and  to  show  what  Christ  had 
done  for  the  people  that  they  might  not  die,  many  of  the 

(IMS)  fall  of  the  good  frnita  of  that  first  planting.     Methodism  ha« 
struck  itd  roots  deep  in  the  affections  of  thousands." 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL     CHURCH.        413 

hearers  wept,  and  some  of  them  cried  aloud.  I  saw  so 
clearly  that  the  Lord  was  willing  to  bless  the  people, 
even  whUe  I  was  speaking,  that  I  began  to  feel  distressed 
for  them  ;  at  last  I  burst  into  tears,  and  could  not  speak 
for  some  moments.  After  stopping  and  weeping  for 
some  time,  I  began  ag^iin,  but  had  spoken  but  a  little 
while  before  the  cries  oi  the  people  overcame  me,  and  I 
wept  with  them  so  that  I  could  not  speak.  I  found  that 
love  had  tears,  as  well  as  grief." 

Such  a  spirit  could  not  fail  to  captivate  the  multitude. 
It  was  characteristic  of  Lee  through  his  long  and  success- 
ful career.  Pathos  was  natural  to  him.  Humor  seems, 
in  some  temperaments,  to  be  the  natural  counterpart,  or, 
at  least,  reaction  of  pathos.  Lee  became  noted  for  his 
wit ;  we  shall  see  it,  serving  him  with  many  a  felicitous 
advantage,  in  his  rencounters  with  opponents,  especially 
in  the  North  eastern  States.  It  flowed  in  a  genial  and 
perennial  stream  from  his  large  heart,  and  played  most 
vividly  in  his  severest  itinerant  hardships ;  but  he  was 
full  of  tender  humanity  and  affectionate  piety.  His  rich 
sensibilities,  rather  than  any  remarkable  intellectual 
powers,  made  him  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  popular 
preachers  of  his  day.  One  of  his  fellow-laborers,  a  man 
of  excellent  judgment,  says  that  he  possessed  uncommon 
colloquial  powers,  and  a  fascinating  address ;  that  his 
readiness  at  repartee  was  scarcely  equaled,  and  by  the 
skillful  use  of  this  talent  he  often  taught  those  who  were 
disposed  to  be  witty  at  his  expense  that  the  safest  way 
to  deal  with  him  was  to  be  civil ;  that  he  was  fired  with 
missionary  zeal,  and,  moreover,  a  man  of  great  moral 
courage.  "  He  preached  with  more  ease  than  any  other 
man  I  ever  knew  in  the  connection."^*  It  is  no  matter 
of  surprise  that  in  preaching  his  farewell  sermon,  in  these 

»«  Eev.  Thomas  Ware,  Life  and  Travels,  p.  207. 


414  HISTORY    OF    THK 

new  southern  fields,  the  people  wept  so  miu-h  tluit  he 
could  not  proceed.  "  I  sat  down,"  he  says,  "  and  wept 
several  minutes.  I  then  left  the  house,  but  before  I 
could  get  far,  they  came  around  me  weeping.  I  began 
to  bid  them  farewell,  and  to  speak  a  few  words  to  them ; 
but  my  grief  was  so  great  that  I  was  soon  forced  to 
stop." 

During  the  year  1784  he  labored  on  Salisbury  Circuit, 
in  the  west  of  North  Carolina,  and  here  the  same  traits 
characterized,  and  the  same  results  followed,  his  ardent 
ministry.  In  four  days  after  his  arrival  on  the  circuit 
we  find  him  writing  in  the  following  strain :  "  I  preached 
at  Hem's  to  a  large  company  of  solemn  hearers.  Wliile 
I  was  speaking  of  the  love  of  God,  I  felt  so  much  of  that 
love  in  my  own  soul  that  I  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears, 
and  could  speak  no  more  for  some  time,  but  stood  and 
wept.  I  then  began  again,  but  was  so  much  overcome 
that  I  had  to  stop  and  weep  several  times  before  I  fin- 
ished my  subject.  There  were  very  few  dry  eyes  in  the 
house.  O,  my  God,  what  am  1  that  tliou  art  mindful  of 
me  ?  It  was  a  cross  to  me  to  come  to  this  circuit,  but 
now  I  feel  assured  that  the  Lord  will  be  with  and  suj)- 
port  me." 

While  on  this  circuit  his  labors  were  indefatigable,  his 
j<Mirneys  incessant,  his  health  at  times  prostrated,  and 
his  life  endangered  by  exposure  to  the  weather  and  the 
fording  of  rivers.  Still  we  hear  from  him  but  one  Lan- 
guage, expressive  of  unabated  fervor,  triumphant  faith, 
and  yeanling,  weeping  sympathy  for  souls.  During 
these  labors  he  was  repeatedly  transferred,  for  half  a  year 
or  more,  to  other  circuits.  From  Norfolk  in  Virginia  to 
the  south-west  of  North  Carolina  he  hastened  to  and 
fro,  sounding  the  alarm,  reorganizing  Societies  which 
had  been    nearly  desfroyrd    liy   the  ilistiirbances  of  the 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         415 

war,  pioneering  Methodism  into  regions  which  it  had  not 
before  penetrated,  and  raising  up  some  energetic  men  for 
the  itinerancy.  By  the  latter  part  of  1784  he  had 
become  recognized  as  an  important  if  not  representative 
man  of  his  denomination.  In  December  of  that  year  he 
was  summoned  to  meet  his  ministerial  brethen  with  Dr. 
Coke  in  Baltimore,  for  the  organization  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  was  five  hundred  miles  distant, 
and  chose  to  remain  on  his  frontier  circuit,  where  he  was 
journeying  and  preaching  almost  daily.  He  thus  failed 
to  share  in  the  momentous  proceedings  of  which  he  was 
to  be  the  earliest  historian,  and  one  of  the  ablest  de- 
fenders. 

We  have  followed,  through  the  stormy  period  of  the 
Revolution,  the  principal  evangelists  of  Methodism  by 
such  imperfect  traces  as  the  scanty  records  of  the  times 
aftbrd.  Meanwhile  scores  of  other  laborers  entered  the 
field,  many  of  them  men  of  might,  who  have  left  historic 
impressions  on  the  denomination  and  on  the  coimtry ; 
whose  labors  have  been  gigantic  in  results,  but  unre- 
corded in  detail.  As  we  further  review  this  eventful 
period,  to  collect  the  fragmentary  notices  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  their  Annual  Conferences,  some  of  them  will 
appear  briefly  on  the  scene ;  but  many,  among  the  most 
saintly  and  heroic,  whose  record  will  be  forever  on  high, 
can  never  be  duly  commemorated  on  earth.  The  energy 
and  progress  of  Methodism  during  these  tumultuous 
times  are  surprising.  Revivals  prevailed  in  some  places 
throughout  the  whole  period  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
ministry  was  rapidly  reinforced.  But  many  of  the  Soci- 
eties, says  the  cotemporary  historian,  were  dispersed  or 
could  not  assemble,  many  of  their  male  members  were 
drafted,  and  when  the  militia  were  called  out,  had  to  go 
into  the  army  to  fight  for  their  country.    Some  lost  their 


416  HISTORY    OF    THE 

lives,  an<l  some  mn<le  shipwreck  of  their  faith;  some 
were  bound  in  their  consciences  not  to  fight,  and  no 
threatenings  could  compel  them  to  bear  arms  or  hire 
substitutes.  Some  of  them  "  were  whipped,  some  fined, 
some  imprisoned,  otliers  were  sent  liome,  and  many  were 
persecuted.  The  Societies  had  much  to  discourage  them 
and  little  to  help  them  forward.  But  notwithstanding 
their  difficulties  they  stood  fast  as  one  body,  and  waxed 
stronger  and  stronger  in  the  Lord."'*  lie  assures  us,  how- 
ever, that  no  sooner  had  the  war  ended  than  the  evan- 
gelists saw  the  fruits  of  their  former  labors  in  most  of  the 
land,  and  that  the  sJitferings  and  dispersion  of  so  many 
of  the  Societies  proved  to  be  a  signal  advantage.  Many 
Methodists  had,  through  necessity,  fear,  or  choice,  moved 
into  the  back  settlements,  or  new  parts  of  the  country, 
some  even  beyond  the  great  mountain  ranges.  "As 
soon  as  peace  was  declared,  and  the  way  o})encd,  they 
invited  us  to  come  among  them ;  and  by  their  earnest 
and  frequent  petitions,  both  oral  and  written,  we  went. 
They  were  ready  to  receive  us  with  open  hands  and  will- 
ing hearts,  and  to  cry  out,  '  Blessed  is  he  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  "  In  fine,  the  providential 
design  and  adaptation  of  Methodism,  for  the  new  nation, 
are  revealed  all  through  this  period  of  its  preparatory 
operations. 

The  erection  of  chapels  was  retarded,  if  not  arrested, 
through  most  of  these  years.  Asbury's  project  of  a 
building  in  Norfolk  was  defeated,  and  the  city  laid  in 
ashes ;  the  other  scattered  chapels  in  Virginia  were 
hardly  more  than  wooden  shells :  the  two  in  Baltimore 
had  the  rudest  accommodations.  The  rural  meeting- 
houses of  Maryland  could  hardly  shelter  their  con- 
gregations from  the  weather.  St.  George's,  m  Phil- 
»» Lee,  pp.  77,  84. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        417 

adelphia,  was  used  as  a  riding-school  by  the  British 
cavalry ;  but  the  military  authorities,  probably  through 
respect  for  Wesley  and  the  English  itinerants  in  Amer- 
ica, gave  the  Society  the  use  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
on  Lagrange  Place,  Front-street.  The  chapel  in  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.,  was  occupied  by  troops.  That  of  Salem  was 
not  projected  till  about  the  close  of  the  war ;  it  was 
the  fourth  in  the  state  after  Bethel,  Pembeiton,  and 
Trenton,  and  was  hardly  better  than  a  barn.  It  was 
often  besieged  by  mobs,  till  at  last  the  magistrates  inter- 
fered and  protected  the  feeble  Society.  A  profane  club 
of  the  town  continued  the  persecution,  in  burlesque  imi- 
tations of  the  Methodist  worship,  but  was  suddenly 
arrested  by  an  appalling  occurrence  in  one  of  their  assem- 
blies. While  they  were  amusing  themselves  with  jocu- 
lar recitations  of  hymns  and  exhortations,  a  female  guest 
rose  on  a  bench  to  imitate  a  Methodist  class.  "  Glory 
to  God!"  she  exclaimed;  "I  have  found  peace,  I  am 
sanctified ;  I  am  now  ready  to  die !"  At  the  last  word 
she  fell  to  the  floor  a  corpse.  The  club,  struck  with 
consternation,  never  assembled  again,  and  Methodism 
became  eminently  influential  in  the  town  and  all  its 
vicinity.  ^^  It  has  been  erroneously  supposed  that  John- 
street  Chapel,  in  New  York,  was  occupied  by  the  Brit- 
ish troops  during  a  part  of  the  Revolutionary  War." 
Seven  Annual  Conferences  were,  indeed,  held  without  an 
appointment  to  that  city.  The  defeat  of  the  Americans 
on  Long  Island,  August  27,  1776,  by  which  they  lost 
more  than  two  thousand  men,  including  important  offi- 
cers, compelled  them  to  evacuate  the  city.  From  that 
event  down  to  the  peace  of  1783  the  Conference  had  no 

"  Lednmn,  p.  870. 

"  Bangs,  i,  p.  119,  and  Gorrie'e  History  of  Episcopal  Methodism,  p.  74 
"Wakeley  corrects  the  error,  p.  267. 

A— 27 


418  HISTORY    OF    THE 

official  access  to  this  its  original  church.  The  chapels 
of  most  denominations  in  the  city  were  appropriated  by 
the  enemy.  All  tho  Presbyterian  churches  were  occu- 
pied by  his  troops:  the  Middle  Dutch,  the  North  Dutch, 
and  the  French  were  crowded  as  prisons ;  the  Baptist 
used  as  a  stable ;  the  Quaker  as  a  hospital  ;'^  John-street, 
however,  was  spared,  through  deference  to  Wesley  and 
his  English  representatives  in  the  colonies.  The  Meth- 
odists were  allowed  to  use  it  themselves  on  Sunday 
nights;  the  Hessian  troops,  with  their  chaplain,  occupied 
it  in  religious  services  on  Simday  mornings.  Tlie  little 
flock,  though  much  reduced  by  the  dispersion  of  many 
of  its  members,  met  regularly,  and  was  providentially 
provided  with  pastors.  We  have  already  seen  that  John 
Mann  was  converted  and  received  into  the  Society  under 
the  ministry  of  Boardman.  lie  had  graduated,  as  Class- 
leader  and  Exhorter,  to  the  rank  of  an  efl^cctive  Local 
Preacher,  by  the  time  that  the  Revolution  rendered  his 
services  most  indispensable  to  his  suflTering  brethren. 
They  now  placed  him  in  charge  of  their  deserted  pulpit ; 
he  preached  in  it  all  through  the  war,  and  during  the 
same  time  acted  as  Class-Leader,  Trustee,  and  Treasurer. 
Ilis  services  were  of  the  highest  importance  in  this  crit- 
ical period.  Tliey  probably  saved  the  Methodism  of 
New  York  city  from  at  least  temporary  extinction. 

Mann  received  timely  assistance  in  his  solitary  minis- 
trations. We  have  heretofore  witnessed  the  last  sad 
interview  of  Shadford  with  Asbury  at  Judge  White's 
mansion,  where  they  spent  a  day  in  fasting  and  prayer 
before  deciding  whether  they  should  remain  in  the  colo- 
nies through  the  perils  of  the  war,  or  return  to  England, 
and  the  opposite  conclusions  which  they  reached,  and  their 
final  leave-taking.  Before  their  separation  both  of  them 
«•  Wakeley,  p.  270. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        419 

had  to  keep  themselves  concealed,  a  part  of  the  time,  in  an 
out-house,  hidden  in  a  neighboring  skirt  of  wood,  whith- 
er the  good  judge's  wife  furtively  carried  their  meals. 
When  they  parted,  Asbury  Avrote  in  his  Journal :  "  S.  S. 
came  in  from  the  Upper  Circuit,  but  on  Tuesday  [March 
10,  1778]  both  he  and  G.  S.  left  me.  However  I  was 
easy;  the  Lord  was  with  me;  let  him  do  with  me  as 
seemeth  good  in  his  sight."  S.  S.  and  G.  S.  were  doubt- 
less Samuel  Spraggs'^  and  George  Shadford.  We  have 
but  indistinct  traces  of  the  former.  He  was  received  on 
trial  at  the  Philadelphia  Conference  of  1774,  and  appoint- 
ed to  the  Brunswick  Circuit,  Virginia,  where  he  labored 
in  the  extraordinary  revival  which  was  spreading  through 
all  that  region  under  the  labors  of  Jarratt  and  Williams. 
The  next  year,  by  a  sudden  and  long  transition,  he  ap- 
peared in  Philadelphia,  where  he  continued  two  years; 
an  evidence  of  his  superior  abilities.  In  1777  he  took 
charge  of  Frederick  Circuit,  Maryland,  and  it  was  thence 
that  he  went  to  Judge  White's  house  to  meet  Asbury 
and  Shadford.  He  was  probably  an  Englishman  and  a 
royalist,  and,  with  Shadford,  left  Asbury  to  take  refuge 
within  the  British  lines.  On  an"iving  at  "New  York, 
Shadford  took  passage  for  England,  but  Spraggs  was 
induced  to  join  Mann  in  supplying  the  John-street  pul- 
pit. His  name  now,  naturally  enough,  disappears  from 
the  Minutes,  as  had  that  of  John-street  Church.^"  It  ap- 
pears no  more  in  that  record  till  the  end  of  the  war,  1783, 
when  it  is  again  inserted  with  that  of  the  New  York  ap- 
pointment, and  also  among  the  list  of  "  assistants."     In 

"  His  name  is  spelled  "  Spragg"  in  the  Minutes ;  but  in  the  Old  Kec- 
ord  of  John-street  Church,  where  it  often  recurs  for  years,  it  is  invaria- 
bly given  as  "Spraggs." — Waheley,  2-81. 

!"« Wakeley  says  "  strangely  disappears,"  etc.  Usually  only  the  names 
of  appointed  preachers  were  yet  inserted.  John-street  was  no  longer 
an  appointment,  being  within  the  British  lines. 


420  HISTORY    OF    THE 

1784  it  disappears  forever;  now  not  without  mystery. 
By  this  date  the  Minutes  record  deaths  and  locations, 
but  the  name  of  Samuel  Spraggs  is  unmentioned.*'  At 
John-street  he  had  received  the  largest  salary  given  to 
any  Methodist  preacher  of  those  times  ;  about  three  hund- 
red dollars  per  annum.  It  is  probable  that  the  prospect 
of  harder  work,  with  poorer  support,  elsewhere,  when, 
according  to  usage,  he  must  be  removed,  discouraged 
him ;  it  is  possible  that  his  domestic  necessities  by  this 
time  rendered  better  support  indispensable.  He  left  the 
denomination  and  became  pastor  of  the  "  Old  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church"  in  Elizabethtown,  and  his  name  is 
commemorated  on  a  tablet  on  its  walls." 

During  the  war,  after  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  no 
other  itinerant  crossed  tlie  Hudson.  The  little  church 
in  New  York  was  totally  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the 
Methodist  communion.  Before  the  war  it  reported  more 
than  two  hundred  members;  at  its  close  but  sixty.  As 
most  of  the  churches  in  the  city  were  shut,  during  its 
occupation  by  the  British,  the  congregations  of  John- 
street  were  unusually  large,  notwithstanding  the  declen- 
sion of  the  membership  of  the  Society.  Its  weekly 
collections  were  also  extraordinary.  If  some  of  its  com- 
municants were  royalists,  at  the  arrival  of  the  foreign 
troops,  yet,  by  frequent  removals  to  Nova  Scotia  and 
elsewhere,  they  left  a  decided  majority  who  were  loyal 
to  the  colonial  cause.  These,  however,  were  wary  ;  un- 
der military  domination,  they  availed  themselves  quietly 
of  any  indulgence  which  the  foreigners,  out  of  respect 
to  "Wesley's  opinions,  were  disposed  to  grant  them.  The 
higher  officers  showed  them  much  regard ;   but  subor- 

*'  Bongs,  in  his  Alphabetical  List,  toL  iv,  App.,  marks  him  as  with- 
drawn. 
"  Wakeley,  p.  290. 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.         421 

dinates  and  the  common  troops  often  treated  them  with 
disrespect,  probably  knowing  better  their  real  sentiments 
on  the  war.  They  would  stand  in  the  aisles  during  wor. 
ship  with  their  caps  on,  and  sometimes  ventured  on  more 
significant  ofienses.  On  one  occasion,  at  the  concluding 
hymn,  they  sung  the  national  song,  "  God  save  the  king," 
as  a  test  of  the  opinions  of  the  people.  The  latter  were 
familiar  with  a  lyric  of  Charles  Wesley  adapted  to  this 
tune.  Their  indignation,  or  patriotism,  for  once  over- 
came their  wonted  caution,  and  they  followed  the  royal 
song  with  their  own  triumphant  hymn : 

"Come,  thou  almighty  King, 
Help  us  thy  Name  to  sing, 

Help  us  to  praise: 
Father  all-glorious, 
O'er  all  victorious, 
Come,  and  reign  over  us, 

Ancient  of  Days. 

"  Jesus,  our  Lord,  arise ! 
Scatter  our  enemies, 

And  make  them  fall  I 
Let  thine  almighty  aid 
Our  sure  defense  he  made ; 
Our  souls  on  thee  be  stay'd ; 

Lord,  hear  our  call!"  etc.*' 

Occasionally  some  of  the  more  important  men  of  the 
army,  from  mischief,  perhaps,  rather  than  malice,  interrupt- 
ed their  humble  worship.  "  Upon  a  Christmas  eve,  when 
the  members  had  assembled  to  celebrate  the  advent  of 
the  world's  Redeemer,  a  party  of  British  officers,  masked, 
marched  into  the  chapel.  One,  very  properly  personify- 
ing their  master,  was  dressed  with  cloven  feet  and  a  long 
forked  tail.  The  devotions  of  course  soon  ceased,  and 
the  chief  devil,  proceeding  up  the  aisle,  entered  the  altar. 
As  he  was  ascending  the  stairs  of  the  pulpit,  a  gentleman 
"  G.  P.  Disosway,  Esq.,  in  Wakeley,  p.  458. 


422  HISTORY    OF    THE 

present,  with  his  cane,  knocked  off  his  Satanic  majesty's 
mask,  when  lo,  there  stood  a  well-known  British  colonel ! 
He  was  immediately  sei/X'd  and  dt-tained,  until  the  city 
gnard  was  sent  to  take  cliarge  of  the  bold  oflender.  The 
congregation  retired,  and  the  entrances  of  the  church  were 
locked  upon  the  prisoner  for  additional  security.  His 
companions  outside  then  commenced  an  attack  upon  the 
doors  and  windows,  but  the  arrival  of  the  guard  put  an 
end  to  these  disgraceful  proceedings,  and  the  prisoner 
was  delivered  into  their  custody." 

During  most  of  the  war  Methodism  had  its  chief  suc- 
cesses in  its  southern  fields.  Abbott  and  his  fellow-la- 
borers kept  it  alive  and  moving  in  New  Jersey,  and  at 
the  peace  that  state  reported  more  than  one  thousand 
members;  but,  out  of  the  nearly  fourteen  thousand  re- 
turned in  1783,  more  than  twelve  thousand  were  in 
Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  North  Carolina. 
There  were  more  within  the  small  limits  of  Delaware 
than  in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  or  New  York.  New 
York  had  but  about  sixty,  Philadelphia  but  a  hundred 
and  nini'tei'n,  Baltimore  more  than  nine  hundred.  Near- 
ly all  the  preachers  who  entered  the  itinerant  ranks  dur- 
ing these  years  were  raised  up  south  of  Pennsylvania. 
It  was,  in  fine,  during  these  stormy  times  that  Metho<lism 
took  that  thorough  ]>ossession  of  the  central  colonies 
which  it  has  ever  since  maintained,  and  began  to  send 
forth  those  itinerant  expeditions  which  have  borne  its 
ensign  over  the  South,  over  th«'  West,  and  even  to  the 
Northeast  as  far  as  Maine;  for  we  shall  hereafter  see 
that  not  only  I^e,  but  many  of  his  assistant  founders  of 
Methodism  in  New  England,  were  from  these  middle 
provinces.  While  the  war  lasted  they  pushed  their  way 
southward  and  westward,  but  as  soon  as  the  struggle 
closed  they  broke  energetically  into  the  North.     Meth* 


METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH.        423 

odism  thus  took  much  of  its  primitive  tone  from  the 
characteristic  temperament  of  the  colonies  of  Delaware, 
Maryland,  and  Vii-ginia — a  fact  which  had  no  slight  in- 
fluence on  its  history  for  more  than  half  a  century.  The 
subtler  intelligence  and  severer  temper  of  the  North,  and 
especially  of  the  Northeast,  were  to  intervene  at  the  op- 
portune moment,  to  develop  its  literary,  theological,  and 
educational  interests,  and  to  embody  it  in  effective  and  en- 
during institutions  and  forms  of  policy  ;  but  it  needed  yet 
the  animation,  the  energetic  temperament,  the  social  apt- 
ness and  vivacity,  the  devotional  enthusiasm,  of  the  more 
Southern  communities.  At  the  end  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  there  was  probably  not  a  Methodist  in  the  Eastern 
States ;  for  the  Society  formed  by  Boardman,  in  Boston, 
had  become  extinct.  It  was  to  achieve  its  chief  triumphs, 
for  some  time  yet,  southward  and  westward,  and  to  en- 
counter in  those  directions  adventures  and  hardships  for 
which  the  ardent  and  generous  spirit  of  its  present  peo- 
ple and  ministry  peculiarly  fitted  it.  It  went  forward, 
not  only  preaching  and  praying,  but  also  "  shouting,"  in- 
fecting the  enterprising,  adventurous,  and  scattered  popu- 
lations of  the  wilderness  and  frontiers  with  its  evangelic 
enthusiasm,  and  gathering  them  by  thousands  into  its 
communion.  It  pressed  northward,  at  first,  with  the 
same  zealous  ardor,  but  became  there  grad-ually  attem- 
pered with  a  more  deliberate,  a  more  practical,  yet  a 
hardly  less  energetic  spirit.  The  characteristics  of  both 
sections  blended,  securing  to  it  at  once  unity,  enthusiasm, 
and  practical  wisdom,  especially  in  its  great  fields  in  the 
West,  where,  for  the  last  half  century,  and  probably  for 
all  future  time,  it  was  destined  to  have  its  most  important 
sway. 

END   OP   VOL.  I. 


»7<JJ   nAY'^MW^! 


nrrf 


*^^Sh 


'^xm 


M<''« 


JfL 


v'Na'>' 


COLUMBIA    UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 

This  book  l3  due  on  the  date  indicated  below,  or  at  the 
expiration  of  a  definite  period  after  the  date  of  borrowing,  as 
provided  by  the  library  rules  or  by  special  arrangement  with 
the  Librarian  in  charge. 


A 

DATE  Bon.iowco 

DATE  DUE 

DATE  BORMOWCO 

DATE  DUB 

tSSB 

ISm 

n  k^vvAV 

-.  V  T 

^f^Ml^ 

.np,"  'n 

A 

jJ4Wl 

cfli 

1      rT  r 

C^e(747     Mice 

T 

aii'iVo' 


A  A  .  .  *  .         A  .  *  "  A 


Ml 


933.6 


-*^y^ 


y.jtr 


#  !f. 


■!■    " 


X]I 


"s.V 


..-.^^-...^ 


t^  ^i^me&iffmi^nm&'id^. 


';.«>Aj  cjj  fc'jCA'jo^'^f sthy^w 


